Do tubes matter beyond gain stage on preamp?


High end preamps such as VAC, CJ, VTL only use a couple tubes on gain stage - impacts harmonics of course.  Vs BAT and ARC who use 8.

Tube dealers confide that tubes beyond gain stage dont meaningfully impact sound, saying its what people want so its done.  









emergingsoul

Showing 3 responses by emergingsoul

jperry, how r u?  Even if made up it would be good, its not. So add somethin or go away.
Not sure why power supply tubes in a preamp impact harmonics?  Maybe cause it cleans up power.  If input components, eg streamer/phonostage, connected to preamp all have great power supply than preamp power tubes would seem less important.
So better to have a couple tubes vs no tubes.

ie. Harmonic distortion is highly desirable vs flat ss.

ashame they dont insert tubes in an av processor.  I run av sound thru a tube pre and it sounds incredible.