tube preamp in SS receiver loop

Thanks very much for those insightful responses. I agree, Newbee, that the tape loop would make sense if I do go the tube buffer route. Thus I probably should not opt for the multi-source tube preamp but a tube buffer instead, maybe with a separate pbono stage.

Burt, I probably should have mentioned that I am using a 70s era Marantz receiver, not home theater. But I have been mistakenly believing that I couldn't wire multiple sources to the tube preamp's single line level input because of the hum and signal degradation that would be introduced by several sources at the PHONO input. But at the LINE stage input, I now realize, I could indeed wire different sources directly to the preamp's single input using Y adapters or other multi input wiring.

So the decision becomes whether to use a buffer and perhaps a phono stage, or a preamp with all the sources wired directly into it. I guess I wanted to be able to continue selecting the source on the receiver. But that doesn't matter that much.

This is all very helpful in my thinking, so thanks again for your wise counsel.

If I have it right, you're talking about connecting several sources into one input on a tube buffer using Y-adapters. In that case, it's your original idea, that this may cause hum and noise problems, that I think is correct. Using Y-adapters is ok if you're feeding out from a component, but never if you're feeding into one. Hum and noise (d.c. overload) is predictably the result. If you need to handle several sources with a tube buffer, one way might be to insert a multi-source capable input selector box between the tube buffer and the sources and then feed the buffer into a single receiver input. But, OTOH, if you end up having to go the tube preamp route, then most certainly you should connect the preamp directly to your receiver's main in - this allows you to bypass the receiver's preamp section altogether, and with it, the receiver's volume control (pots of older design, or on relatively newer, but cheaper, gear are often sources of distorions and coloration in their own right). So if your preamp has a decent volume control, it may be an upgrade in that regard too, as well as the opportunity to introduce tubes. In any case, as long as you can avoid it anyway, it's not really a good idea to double up on volume controls as long as the idea is to build a revealing system. Hope this helps. Regards.

Sorry Vesuvio, I see now where your preamp would only have one line input in addition to the phono input - didn't pick up on that the first time around. But my advice is still essentially the same as for the buffer - you'd still end up needing a selector switching box for the all the line sources, again, as Y-adapters just wouldn't work in either case here. A selector box may be ok with you or possibly you may just prefer to bite the bullet and find a linestage-with-phono preamp that can handle the number of sources you need. Post again if you want, if I still don't have it right.

I would avoid the Y adapters if possible. Ivan is correct but then, again, we're back at the multi-input tube preamp vs. a tube buffer PLUS a multi-input selector box.

My advice is to try and simplify the signal path as much as possible. Now that I know this is just for 2-channel audio - the preamp makes additional sense because it positions you to eventually replace the receiver for a dedicated 2 channel SS or tube amplifier.

Thanks, Ivan. You have it right. I have a typical vintage solid state midfi receiver with phono, tape, tuner, aux inputs. I started looking into this controversial buffer business, which led me to a reasonable and fairly popular tube preamp, with the phono stage as well, the Yaqin 12B, which I thought might make a good buffer.

But then I wondered if it would work in the tape or pre-out, main-in loop as a tube preamp in series with the solid state preamp in the receiver. Maybe a little redundant, and, as you say, there is the problem with the two volume controls. I don't want to completely bypass the receiver's preamp because I need its tone controls.

So I'm leaning toward the single-tube Yaqin buffer (cd1), and maybe later a phono stage. And one day, maybe either a more expensive preamp with multiple inputs or a complete tube setup. Part of the fun of all this is the journey.

Much appreciate your thoughtful comments.

John