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Adding tube sound to my SS system

I have a question for the hive mind. I had the opportunity try a PS Audio BHK tube preamp in my system the other day (in between my LUMIN T2 and Luxman 509x bypassing the luxman preamp) and the vocals / midrange made my heart flutter and chills run up my spine. I heard life detail and nuance in the vocals that I didn’t with the Luxman preamp and sounded like the singer was in the room. But, it was lacking in soundstage, bass and so so recordings didn’t shine. The Luxman preamp made everything sound smoother and liquid but at the expense of some life in the midrange. I ultimately liked the sound without the BHK preamp better, But, that tube sound is intriguing and I’m looking for a way to add it into my system.

system is LUMIN T2->Luxman l509x->spendor D9.2

I keep the Luxman loudness on all the time. Maybe that says I like a fuller sound. i stream 99% of the time through Roon or airplay (tidal and my wife uses Spotify). The modern convenience of controlling volume from the phone is essential (this the LUMIN). Home theater runs through the HT bypass on the luxman. All kinds of music jazz, folk, rock, hip hop etc. simplicity has value over going fully separates. I’ve been trying to research streaming dacs that have a tube or streaming tube preamps but not really having any luck finding anything that fits the bill. Looking to upgrade the LUMIN as I love the aesthetic of the Luxman so it would be hard to part with but I’d do it if needed. Wondering if streamer to tube preamp to power amp is the only way to make it work. Budget is not too much more than my current gear and willing to buy used.

trentgordon

Showing 1 response by dtorc

dtorc
54 posts
 

This is not very High End Audio of me, but let me offer another solution that is cheap and fun: The Joilda (Fosgate-designed) Foz SSX. I bought one for use with headphones when I had a job that would take me away from home for two months every year. 

It can go between your preamp and power amp. It does three things: it is a tube buffer, and changing its single 12au7 tube has great and fun effects on sound. It has a bass control that I think of as a thickening agent, as it increases the bass, and also thickens the lower midrange just a little. And it has a crossfeed circuit (that's the Sound Stage Expander, or SSX portion) that lets you play with the width of your soundstage. 

Again, I used it for headphones so I could have some control over the soundstage of my phones, while adding or subtracting bass. And to warm up my good, but somewhat cool headphone amp.

Recently, I have tried it with an inexpensive solid state amp, and I can't get over how much it improved the musical enjoyment, and at a relatively low cost to fidelity. Might be fun for folks to try. We can't be purists all of the time... 

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