Bob_reynolds,
"...tube designs are inherently noisier than solid state. Tube designs start out with that disadvantage. It may be possible that the top dollar preamps can overcome that disadvantage, but why spend all that money when solid state is available?"
It doesn't take top dollar tube pre's by any means. I run a TAD150sig...not a hint of noise...black silence until the tube CDP has something say(from a CD). Same experience from a tube integrated...maybe I'm just lucky.., but neither are top dollar machines.
"...tube designs are inherently noisier than solid state. Tube designs start out with that disadvantage. It may be possible that the top dollar preamps can overcome that disadvantage, but why spend all that money when solid state is available?"
It doesn't take top dollar tube pre's by any means. I run a TAD150sig...not a hint of noise...black silence until the tube CDP has something say(from a CD). Same experience from a tube integrated...maybe I'm just lucky.., but neither are top dollar machines.