2. amps-preamps
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Think I want a tube system?

I've haven't listened to a tube system in 30 or 40 years. (I'm retired). I have several general questions. I hope y'all (South Alabama) will help me. I have a fair solid state power amp (Onkya M-504 165w per channel) No pre amp.
Which is the most important a tube pre amp or a tube power amp or both tubes. I would like to keep the power amp, but would sell if necessary. My second question is a little more complicated. If I play music from cds or internet download, isn't that digital. If I recall,digital is not an analog wave form but samples taken along it's path to reproduce an analog wave. The more samples the closer to analog. However, many people felt that no mater how many samples were taken, the nuance of a pure sound wave would be lost. If this is the case, what can tubes give me if my source is digital. Back to vinyl? Even then do they now record digital? I hope this is wrong.
rryall
daverz
487 posts
 
"If I recall,digital is not an analog wave form but samples taken along it's path to reproduce an analog wave. The more samples the closer to analog."

This is a misconception about how digital audio works. The final signal that comes out of a CDP or DAC is as analog as anything else.

Tubes can give you what they would give anyone: a larger, more dimensional soundstage; a warmer, more liquid midrange; greater weight and texture in the midbass, etc.
6550c
393 posts
 
CDs were a big part of the reason I got into tubes. I found almost all cds way to harsh and shrill sounding, This was sound I had never had with records.Then the chase began. How do I get rid of this awefull harsh sound ? I went with several CD players as they got better and each was a big help, but the sound was still too clincal with most SS amps, so that is when I discovered how great tubes sound with CDs. A few solid state amps do sound real good, but for the most part tubes will be better than solid state costing 4 or 5 times more.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
On your amplifier question;what speakers are you driving?
A lot of people pair a tube pre amp with solid state power amps and find the combination to be very enjoyable;I was on of those people early on but did eventually move to both tube pre amp and power amps.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Look into a used Cayin 100 or 88. Great value, great sound. Check out the cayin site at cayinusa.
allchemie
118 posts
 
For an excellent tube set-up a Leben Integrated tube amp would be a good start, although there are other fine integrated tube amps. Along with a relatively easy to drive speaker system, such as Harbeth, Devore, Vaughn (direct-buy), Coincident Technologies (direct buy), and you would have a killer system. If you get a good cd or sacd/cd player, or even a universal player would help, as would a good turntable and cartridge, if you are interested in getting into vinyl.

Of course, everything depends on your budget, so in order to give you better direction, that information would be necessary.
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