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What is a better route, tube or SS preamp?

Hi everyone! I recently unloaded all of my home theatre gear, and am concentrating on a 2 channel stereo system. So far I have a shanling cd-80, a naim 150 amp, Martin logan aerius loudspeakers, and a carver ct-17 preamp. I'm looking to replace the preamp, however, I'm not sure wether I should go solid state or tube. I know I need to demo some of both, but I wanted some opinions or if anyone has prior experience in this matter. Right now my amp is a SS and my cd has tube output. Everything sounds pretty good, but I want it to sound great!
Also, I will mostly be listening to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal, but also a lot of classic rock as well..
Lastly, I am aware of the amp input impedance and preamp output impedance ratio for both tube and SS. Is there anything else I should consider when pairing an amp and preamp?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
bstevens
bstevens OP
1 posts
 
Thanks everyone for your input! All of it was extremely helpful, and I really appreciate it!
wolf_garcia
6,626 posts
 
Nonesensical (nonsencical?) butt: "acoustic music requires ambience retrival that rock doesn't even have"...uh...OK then.
williamsims
32 posts
 
Speaking of geniuses, my first preamp a short 25 years ago was the Modjeski Music Reference RM-5. Still a great bargain and a great preamp with a good MM phono stage.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
@ wolf_garcia,Hi,your since of humor is great,I got my first laugh in a few days,no matter the difference in tast with componets on this thread,who says that this hobby in the forums has to be boring? cheers!
mrmitch
359 posts
 
Wolf's hearing is probably more acute in the higher registers because.......DUH............he's a wolf. Lol! I myself have had great success with a tubed preamp and tube phono preamp going to a solid state amplifier, but your mileage may vary. I don't claim to have golden ears but I am a guitar, bass, and keyboard player going back to when I was 7 years old (62 now), so I'm familiar with how music ought to sound live. Each of us hears differently due to age and health,our rooms and ancillary equipment are different, so you have to find what works for you, for YOUR ears. The tube pres and soild state amp gives me the combination of ambiance retrieval and trueness of timbre while also providing a deep, solid bass foundation to the types of music I enjoy (everything but country and hip-hop).
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