Can we use TUBE PREAMP with SS AMP ?

I've always used tubed preamps with SS amps, done right it's hard to beat. The warmth of tubes with the slam of SS. Cable selection is important, Transparent and Goertz have worked well for me. No idea how an ARC and Krell would marry up..ARC preamps aren't quite as warm as some others (my BATVK30 is much smoother and liquid than my ARC SP9 and SP14's were). In any event you can always roll tubes to get the preamp to your tastes. I've read that many feel Krell amps are somewhat sterile/bright/analytical, you may want to consider a Classe, Bryston, or BAT SS amplifier. Jeff

Goone,

I used a VK30 with a Classe DR8 amplifier and was very happy with the match. I decided another DR8 was in order and biamped, shortly after I had a party and being somewhat impaired I was too liberal with the gain on the preamp. Not sure if anyone knows this, but it costs $400 to replace the inductor, capacitors, and resistors in Martin Logan Quest Z crossovers. To be 16 and trapped in a 40 year old's body...

Anyway..about the sound. Please bear in mind my front end components are likely different than yours, my speakers are planars (Martin Logan Quest Z's), my listening room has it's own characteristics, and my taste in music may be quite different as well. Feel like a lawyer with all those disclaimers. The Classe amps have always provided plenty of current and do a great job driving marginal loads but can be a little bright/analytical when paired with the wrong preamp. I used a ARC SP9 then SP14 with the Classe and enjoyed the experience, but it was still not quite right. The PRAT was off-kilter. The BATVK30 was a God-send; smooth, liquid, toe-tapping musical. The Classe amp still provided the slam and speed I love, but the mids and highs were very nicely smoothed out by the VK30. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RUN SINGLE-ENDED INTERCONNECT BETWEEN A TUBE PREAMP AND A SOLID STATE AMPLIFIER! I run Goertz balance interconnect, the only way to go is balanced. The BAT-Classe synergy was obvious but really came into it's own when I added Transparent speaker cable between the amp and speakers. I would not hesitate to pick up a VK30, helluva deal and a great match with SS. Jeff

Grandpad, for reasons completely unexplicable I've found single ended interconnects from preamp to amp make excellent antennas. I had an annoying low level hum I just could not get rid of, switched to balanced cable, sweet silence! What a revelation. If you don't have balanced outputs on your preamp or balanced inputs on your amp you can always use Balanced-Single ended connectors sold by PAD or BAT.

Goone...VK30's do come up on the used market. I bought mine right here on the 'Gon. Jeff