2. amps-preamps
  3. 1264342155

Tubes vs. solid state.

I just switched back to my ss equipment and can't see how I listened to ss for so many years and thought that I had a good system, maybe the equipment needs to be left on for some time.
But regardless of that, the difference is startling. I know that my tube equipment is not the same degree of excellence as my ss, but now ss sounds lean, thin lifeless. Have my listening priorities changed? One thing I noticed; my listening perception adapts to the sound present in the room. As I write this the sound is improving incremently.
Anyone share the same experience??
I will post as I will continue to listen and notice differences.
Ss is simaudio p-5 w-5, tubes are Cj premier 4 amp and audio experience a2se preamp.
Are there ss preamps that will satisfy or am I smitten by bubes I mean tubes.
pedrillo
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Our ear/brains are quite adaptable over a wide range of listening situations. My sense is that if we like the music we're listening to, we adjust our internal processors to get the most sonic happiness out of the experience, hence our audio systems will sound best after we've settled into focusing on what we want to hear.

Also, those times when it all sounds like horse hockey, chances are it's our emotional state getting in the way of satisfaction and not system performance. This is in part what keeps the audio business going.
mitch2
4,087 posts
 
I really like the sound of tubes, but for now, for simplicity and low noise, I am satisfied with SS Clayton Class A amps and TEAD Vibe/Pulse preamp, which are the opposite of "thin and lifeless." I do have a tubed output stage in my CD player, but only 2 tubes to worry about.
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muzikat
929 posts
 
I have tried tubes and solid state. Tubes are OK, but to me sound kind of flabby and slow. Audio Note and Blue Circle being the exception to that. Solid state on the other hand is sometimes, but not always, too cold and sterile. I prefer Naim gear as it sounds just right to me.
Tubes and SS benefit from warm-up IMO.
phaelon
1,052 posts
 
"One thing I noticed; my listening perception adapts to the sound present in the room."

Nice point. It takes time to wrap our brains around something new.

"I know that my tube equipment is not the same degree of excellence as my ss, but now ss sounds lean, thin lifeless"

That's to be expected switching from the Premier 4: A particularly seductive and involving amplifier IMO. Generally speaking, while the sonic gap seems to be closing between tubes and SS in many modern designs, I doubt that SS will ever encroach on that Premier 4 magic, if that's to your taste.
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
I just bought a Sophia Baby Amplifer, my first tube amp, and was surprised at how good it sounded. I replaced all the caps and installed new Cardas RCA inputs, and yesterday built a 10' power cord for it. Shockingly sweet, powerful, you know the rest of the jargon. It's mighty 10 watts per channel is plenty to drive my thirty-five-year-Tannoys perfectly. My other amp? A 300WPC SS. It's a fine sounding SS amp, but it can't touch the Baby.

Tubes for the right load are untouchable, I'm now thinking. The right SS might change my mind, but if it could, I couldn't afford it anyway.

Sophia demo:$400
New caps and inputs$160
DIY power cord:$120

See if you can get this quality of sound with SS for the same money. I rather doubt it.

Regards,
Dan


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