Tubed Pre question?

01-27-09: Mapman
There is no right answer but I think tube pre and good SS amp can deliver all the goods in more applications more cost effectively and more reliably over time than can all tubes.

All tubes will cost more and have more limited application depending on speakers and will also probably require more maintenance over time than many might be comfortable with.

A few carefully placed tubes is a cheaper and easier way to go.

Not to say that some of the best sounding systems out there may well be all tube systems.

While I cannot disagree with Mapman, as far as reliability goes, SS is the king, if that is your primary concern. For more years than I care to remember, I went with the tube preamp/ SS amp camp, and while it was very nice, I now realize that NO SS amp, no matter how 'tube-like' the claims, can stand up to a tube amp. In fact, if I could go back in time, I'd say the tube amp gives you more of the 'tube flavor' than the tube preamp, and recommend a SS preamp/tube amp over a tube preamp/SS amp.

I've been using tube preamps for many years, and I have had a couple of tubes go bad. I have only been using tube preamps/tube amps for a couple of years now, and I have not had a bad tube yet......knock wood, though I have modified the sound as much, if not more so than cables by switching tubes (more so in the preamp, but also definitely in the amp).

Yes, I fully agree that SS is more reliable for preamps, amps, CDP's and DAC's, however, the musicality of tubes is sooooo much better, IMHO. Add the fun of tube rolling (you cannot change the way a SS preamp/amp, etc sounds) and I cannot see myself going back to SS unless I become broke and/or deaf.

I should also state though, that I do seem to prefer SS phono preamps over tube phono stages. I do believe that the best I have heard is a SS phono preamp/tube preamp/ tube amp. Also, if you have very difficult to drive speakers, you may be better with a SS amp.

FWIW, I'd change speakers.

Cheers,
John

I have the Joule Electra Marianne Electra Memorial Edition (tube) and the Spectron Mono-blocks (class-D) with Bybee purifiers and I'm in musical heaven with this combo.

Best,

iSanchez

It's a playground. I'm a tube guy, but right now I've got my speakers bi-amped with a 600wpc solid state amps on the bass speaker drivers and 100wpc tube amps on the tweeter/mid drivers. Gives me everything I want, bass drive/slam + purity of tone and harmonic "rightness" I associated with tubes. Oh, and my preamp is a hybrid.

YMMV. My advice would be to find the amps that work best with your speakers (assuming you're committed to the speakers). If you can find the ideal synergy, it matters a lot less whether its tube or silicon. Check owners who are happy with your speakers, and see what they're using.

With the right synergies tubes are unnecessary, and they certainly do extract penalties for reliability, heat, inefficient power use, and even a potential safety liability if you have young children wandering around. I don't think there' a magic bullet. My own experience is that I've liked the sound better most often with tubes, but I've heard some damn nice speaker/amp pairings that are NOT tube amps.

As for whether tubes work better in pre or amp, I like to have them somewhere in the signal chain. But again, design trumps materials. Listen and let your ears be your guide. And always remember: Free advice is worth what you pay for it!

HTH

I am old enough to have started with tube amps and despite occasionally trying one in later years have never regretted switching to SS. The choice between them is entirely personal one. When I built a Heathkit amp in 1963 my first thought was that I was hearing the notes as separate entities for the first time. I recently read a review which noted something of the same effect. In a comparison of a passive preamp verses a tube one the reviewer noted that at first he thought the tube was fuller on the bass end, when he listened closer he found that this was due to the tube" filling up the space between notes". I think that this is the source of the " organic" sound that appeals to many. They are just different and any attempt to prove one better is time wasted. I stated my preference but would not say it is right for everyone else. You have tubes in the area where they do best, the output stage is the weakness of tubes, as even tube designers like C-J would agree. But just buy the one you like and forget it.

I am also a tube pre (Audio Mirror Pp1) and class D (custom UCD700HG monos).