Benefits of tube sound with SS amp with tube cdp?

My set up includes a Jolida JD100, an ARC LS-12, and an Odyssey audio Mono Amps(SS) and the sound was great.

A few months ago, out of curiosity (from reading threads here about the synergy of tube CDP, tube Pre and SS amp), I bought an Octal-based tube preamp (Mapletree Audio Design Octal 6A Triplex at http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/) for $435 and tried it in my system. I figure that if it does not work, I can take the loss and charge it to experience.

My system sounded so much better ever since. The body and warmth of the sound is like an exotic delicacy where it gets fuller and more enticing as the tube aged in time.
From the SS amp, the "punch" was ever present. From the tube preamp, the timbre becomes lush without loss of detail.

The cd player? You know how good it is already because you have one. But in my case, it is a "plus" per se.

Go for the tube preamp. You will not regret it!

....hope this helps....

Mijknarf,

Yes, the LS-12 is an SS Class A!

My LS-12 is now the "designated hitter" in my HT rig by virtue of the processor bypass feature. I also have a carousel CD in my HT system for my better half to listen to as well as for the kids.

I prefer the tube preamp(MAD Triplex Octal 6)on my dedicated two channel during my "quality" listening session. In fact, I have no intention of using an SS preamp again.

Here's the rest of my system that works well with the tube preamp in place and sounds great to me.

-Teres Audio 255 Turntable with OL Silver Arm
-Wright Sound WPP100C tube phono stage with WS04 tube power supply
- Benz ACE LO cart; still saving for the Shelter 901
-Hologram MKII and Hologram speaker jumpers
-Empirical Audio Interconnects and Vitual Dynamics P2 power cords
-Martin Logan Ascents Speakers

the CD player and amps as I mentioned on my previous post.

Good luck on your tube preamp search!

Michgnrick,

Don't get me wrong, the LS-12 is a fine preamp and as a matter of fact, I can live with it in my system. It sounds great! But the tube preamp in my opinion mates very well with a tube CD player counter part. In my system only and I cannot speak for anyone else's.

In fact the LS-12 sounds amazing when I was using a SS CD carousel player and an outboard DAC. I forgot to mention that that's what I have for two channel listening in my HT rig. To tell you the truth, my wife listens a lot of her CD's now because she told me that the sound (with the LS-12 as the preamp)is much better as far as clarity and warmth than when I have the receiver doing all the work.

Tube preamp or tubed CD player may or may not work for you as far as your preference is concern. As a suggestion, check out Mapletree Audio Design's Octal preamp. The price is not stratospheric and maybe it will suit your needs.