2. amps-preamps
  3. 160034-139155

Adding a SS amp as a 2nd amp for my tube rig has been a plus

I'm really glad to have purchased a solid state amp, used, to go with my tube gear. Just the perfect solution to when I grab a moment or two to listen — that hour between work and dinner, for example. There's not enough time to warm up the the tube amps, but I turn on the tube preamp, turn on the solid state amp, and I'm in business.

I spent about 5:1 for the tube stuff (including the better tubes) relative to the SS amp, but I think spending that small extra portion on a slightly better tube rig wouldn't have gotten me as much.

Sonically, the tube stuff is superior — BUT I get a slightly different angle with the ss gear. For example, some rock sounds better with the solid state. Also nice to have a solid state when I swap different speakers in to try out.

Convenience-wise, I get more listening in to have that ss as a second amp. Most of the time, I just listen to tube, but when I can't make listening an "event", I still find myself listening.

Yes -- some additional costs (extra interconnect, extra speaker cables) but I am not the sort who breaks the bank on those items, so pretty negligible added cost.

For what it's worth. Anyone else done this?
hilde45

Showing 7 responses by hilde45

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
@rosco88 Very nice gear you have. I  bought some nice Valvo AT7's from the 1960s for my pre and some Genelex GL 77's for my tube amp; nicer, mellower now, having replaced  the stock JJ's which were in both units (AT7's and KT88s) at purchase.

Given how much the nice tubes in my pre-amp can affect the sound, overall, I wonder how much someone could get away with if they spent really good money on the pre and its tubes and then spent a lot less on a SS amp. How would that compare to a medium good pre/tubes/tube-amp? Hmmm. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
@jjss49 Yes, the low powered tube siren doth summon me to her tropical isle...
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
I considered this amp switch, at some point: https://sites.google.com/view/pine-tree-audio/devices/transparent-selector
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
Not sure if you're addressing me, Mike. It's an Atoll integrated, 120 wpc
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
@tonnesen I'd like to try that Pass amp. Did you do a deHavilland/Pass combo? Any reactions?

@oldhyvy You are way out of my league! Mad skills! I suppose you play the Who's Live at Leeds at the original volume?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
@jtcf 
Yes, synergy is the x factor here. I can just imagine, though, that if someone figured out a combination with a good preamp, great tube, and decent SS amp, they might really equal a lot of other combinations. Just musing out loud, not really thinking this would be easy or practical.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,383 posts
 
@buellrider Mike, yes, budget is important. This Atoll was about 50% of retail and only 1 year old. I was surfing for Parasound A23+ recently, and saw one of those for about $900. That would be a sweet amp, too. Given your Zu's you might even do better.
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