2. amps-preamps
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can a tube-o-phile be happy with ss?

I switched to tubes over a decade ago, after realizing that I no longer listened to the stereo because it did not sound like real music and ss and digital were irritating, on a subconscious level. Went to all tubes and mostly LP's. It worked. I even prefer triode with no negative feedback settings, usually. Now ss has supposedly improved, and its advantages beckon, e.g., less heat, electricity and trouble, better bass and perhaps more detail and clarity. Have any of you voluntarily gone back to the dark side and been content? (with the understanding that it never really ends, for an audiophile). On an unlimited budget one might have few complaints, but this question is necessarily in the context of a semblance of fiscal sanity, not top of the line Boulder, Ayre or Zanden.
128x128lloydc
schipo
1,268 posts
 
Can Romeo be happy without Juliet? He sure can if he could see her twenty years later from the day he first meet her. To say you can not enjoy a SS amp over tube is nonsense. I am amazed how many think just because it's tube it must be getting me closer the truth. There are bad tube designs as there are ss, and idea of maintenance along with tube rolling does bring us closer to a hobby like setting with individualising the sound to our own taste. What is right for you might not be right to me and so on.
lloydc's avatar
lloydc OP
752 posts
 
Thanks for the opinions. The advice that it depends most on the speakers makes sense. It sounds (ahem) like it has been difficult to go back to SS and stay with it, for most who have tried, after becoming accustomed to the beauties of tubes, but like any generality, there are exceptions.
mozartrules
42 posts
 
Yes, it is possible.

I went from tubes to a Pass Aleph (with Quad 2805) and is very happy. But a real class A amp like that doesn't exactly give much of a heat/electricity advantage over tubes!
polk432
1,142 posts
 
Don't do it! There's no reason to jump off a roof. The best TUBE equipment is better sounding than the best ss. More attention to detail when they are built. Good Luck.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
I must be like Deon Sanders… for as much as I enjoy my all tube power train, the aspect of now and then adding an SS amp sure is nice. Probably I won’t add an SS preamp though. Definitely not on par with the tube preamp I have, anyways.

Mainly, and speaking for myself only, this vasilation of mine from hollow state to solid and back again, stems from deep within. Nothing else. Both sides of the how to do music coin, Tube or SS are valid enough methods that can be lived with long term.

But now isn’t some degree of ‘both’ even better? Doubtless here when I say both, I should say both together. 50/50. SS + Tubes, or vice versa.

AS was said already, your speakers are likely gonna make the call which way you wind up going, if one, the other, or onto a 50/50 basis. Even if you aren’t aware of it going in. Ultimately, you’ll find your best combo I’m sure…. But having both around sure is nice, if for no other reason than a change of pace now and then.

eg., Tweaking & rolling… I’m with Jacks here.. once you get there, why keep going?
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