Yes, tube in the pre-amp and/or source along with good SS amp is a practical approach. That is where I have landed. I use the tube pre-amp and IcePower Class D amp with SS dac and phono. I have a similar tube dac also but that is not needed and used in my second system to give it just a dash of tubishness in an otherwise all SS setup as well. I have heard some veryy good tube amp setups, but have achieved a comparable sound with minimal # of tubes and associated pains, so I can recommend my systems as decent models for achieving tube amp-like sound without a tube amp.
solid state vs tubes
has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?
the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.
this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.
if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.
why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.
this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.
if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.
why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
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- 180 posts total
I actually like it better opposite. I did not originally. I was always told tubes in the preamp and solid state amp. Good solid state preamps are much quieter than tubes and render more inner detail, at least in my case. I cannot find good tubes quiet enough for a preamp, especially in the phono section. You still get the benefits of tubes in this setup Tubes in amp/solid state pre. You also get a more natural bass IMO. There are good tube preamp designs, but where do I get the quiet tubes? |
Interesting interview with MBL. If you go down in the interview you can get MBL's take on tubes and still further down on vinyl playback. They do not believe that tubes or vinyl provide the most consistent playback. http://www.monoandstereo.com/2010/09/interview-with-mbl-audio-germany.html |
My intention here is not to start an argument but I feel a need to address the comment that tube sound can be achieved with a solid state amplifier preceded by tube components. I've read that same thing frequently on these threads and I think it's an important enough issue, particularly to those who are considering a change from solid state to tubes, to expand on that idea. The difference between the tube and solid state camps are very similar to the differences between Democrats and Republicans. Just because one adopts a party does not mean he walks lock-step with everyone else in that party, or shares the same values. To my ears, solid state circuitry cannot be made to sound like tubes by inserting tubes higher up the chain. Tubes can have a different appeal to different people. IME, there are those qualities shared by both tubes and solid state that vary by degree e.g., warmth, soundstage, transparency, definition,etc. If you prefer tubes to solid state because you feel that they are superior concerning some of these shared qualities, you can achieve a more tubelike sound, to you, by inserting tubes anywhere along the chain. If however, you are attracted to those tube virtues not shared by solid state, virtues that I have never been able to satisfactorily articulate, but none the less are very real to me, the yearnings of your audio soul will remain unsatisfied by a solid state amplifier regardless of how many tubes you insert upstream. |
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- 180 posts total