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Class D amp with Tube Preamp Combo?

Have you ever tried a good class D/T amp & tube preamp combination? I have read their can be some occasional problems matching these together?

I was thinking of going this way to get the drive, clarity and efficiency of the switching amp combined with the warmth and full body of the tube pre amp.

What setup are you using?

My first post by the way! I have been reading this forum for the last two weeks learning about audio and what to buy for my first serious system.
jaffa_777

Showing 5 responses by dcstep

dcstep
1,518 posts
 
If you can get a good impedence match, use balanced IC runs and the amps have good RFI/EMI rejection, then it can work very nicely. The Bel Canto is one good choice. Also look at Jeff Rowland Design Group and Spectral for amps that do all the above.

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
07-24-08: Guidocorona asked:
"Hi Dave, did you mean Spectron digital amps rather than Spectral? Spectron Mus 3 is a fabulous switching amp!"

Sorry, yes I meant Spectron.

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Guido and I tend to agree, but I must report that my Continuum 500 seemed fully burned-in by 200-hours. Jeff is constantly improving, so maybe his latest capacitors or something else changed the burn-in characteristic.

Others I trust report 500+ hours for 501s and 201s, so I don't think that Guido is "hearing things" that don't exist. Instead, I think that the landscape is changing very quickly and Rowland evidently hit on several ways to advance his pre and power amps very recently.

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
I suspect you're right Guido, or it could be the new capcitors.

Anyone got a Continuum 250 (without PFC) and would they share their burn-in experience???

Dave
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Well, three days isn't enough burn-in, but if you like extra midrange bloom, then Bel Canto is probably not for you. Rowland will not work for you either. You'll need excellent sources with most Class D/ICEPower amps.

Dave
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