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
rhljazz
1,255 posts
 
You hear transistor amp manufacturers boasting of a "tube like" sound. Reviewers may compliment an amp as having a "tube like" liquidity.

You don't hear tube amp manufacturers boasting of a "solid state" sound. Reviewers may criticize an amp as having a "solid state" dryness.

Transistor products aspire for a tube like sound. Tube products are just that way by nature.
pedrillo OP
560 posts
 
minorl,
I agree if you can't wait to listen and in turn and can't turn the system off then its a good thing.
This reminds me of my fascination over the MBL system, I couldn't leave the room at the show, and I wasn't alone.
Some of the music they played was not my cup of tea, for instance there was some crap oops I meant rap, but it sounded awesome and everything else did too.
I want to enjoy music and would like to find myself easily enjoying new genres. I want my system to help me enjoy music I didn't feel before, then it becomes a musical journey.
I didn't feel jazz before, but as my system improved I found it easier to enjoy jazz.
paulfolbrecht
603 posts
 
guyz ever try tubed bubes? As in you tape on a 6SN7. killer stuff.
weseixas
519 posts
 


Hello Gents ,

I have heard great sound out of both and i have heard bad sound out of both , so I'm of the opinion both will work if you shop carefully,

For me personally , i cannot be bother with how finiky tubes are and find the cost of re-tubing ... well, painful! so i tend to stick to SS stuff.

regards,
phd
1,324 posts
 
I want to suggest that solid state has become so good that it really makes little sense to use tubes. There are solid state products out there right now that rival tubes but improve on areas that tube gear can seldom handle. On the other side of the coin the only thing modern tube gear is now doing is sounding like really good solid state, definately not your warm and fuzzy sound of a day gone by. I still like both but it is important to mention that your choice may be based on what type of music you normally listen to. I like tube preamps but I have had solid state preamps that make you question things.
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