2. amps-preamps
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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
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Adjusting from tubes to solid state is like adjusting from electrostatic to dynamic speakers. It seems all solid state designers are trying to make their amps sound more tube-like. Solid state and hybrid equipment does take a long time to warm up, like 3 days.
cooljazzcat
17 posts
 
For me, a tube amp crossed over at around 80hz to a quality sealed servo sub is audio-nirvana. All of the slow, flabby bass arguments against tubes go out the window with this setup.
david12
1,454 posts
 
As far as the adjudstment to new kit is concerned, I am sure that is true, both for worse and better sound. We have all had the experience, I am sure, of an excellent upgrade, which clearly advances the sound of your system. A week later, you have lost that lift, you hacve adjusted to it and it no longer registers. As an aside, I am sure that this is the reason some are on a perpetual upgrade treadmill. Change, any change, will tend to register as an improvement. That disappears after a while and you need a new fix. I wo'nt bore you with the philosophy and physiology of perception. Suffice it to say, we are hard wired for change in sensory input, not constant inputs.

As for SS/tube, it is one of the perpetual arguments. I like tubes, specifically, my SET amp. If I had to have SS, it wouuld need to be well executed Class A. In general, I find powerful class A/B, SS amps, grainy and fatiguing. Plainly there are exceptions, the Lavardin IT being one.

I think if you asked 100 audiophiles who have used both tubes and SS, a majority would prefer tubes. I do'nt know that, but I suspect that would be the answer.
ojgalli
165 posts
 
I've asked over 200 audiophiles. 47.6% prefer tubes, about 9% prefer SS, the remainder have no preference.
dividebytube
50 posts
 
I was a tube guy for years n' years - built my own (SE and PP) along with modifying plenty of vintage pieces. I had no positive experiences with solid state, having been disappointed with Adcom, Marantz or any solid state pieces.

That was until I tried some vintage Threshold gear - the S/500 and FET-10 linestage / phono units. They do sound 'different' than tube gear. I liken the difference between 35mm film (tubes) and LCD (solid state). With my Magnepan speakers and the Threshold gear I'm happy as a clam and have no urge to go back to the fussiness of tube gear.
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