For tube sound, which is more important: preamp or power amp?


I have always loved the “tube sound” - warmth, midrange, soundstage. Through the years (since about 1975), I have owned many tube and solid state amps and preamps, in various combinations. Presently, I have a tube amp and a solid state preamp. But like most of you, I am thinking of making changes, again.  Not to cloud the discussion, the specific brands are not important.  I also listen to acoustic music, females vocals, love mini monitors, EL34s, NOS tubes, and don’t care that much about bass.  So you can see that my taste fits the tube sound very well. But I have had systems that are too warm, not enough dynamics or details, and fat in the low end, too.

okay, now to the discussion.  To produce the tube sound, which is more important: the preamp or the power amp?  Let’s talk in general, and (if possible? May not be) not tied to one specific piece/brand/model of equipment.  I know there are exceptions to any general rule.  Not sure if it makes a difference to your comments, but I have no phono and am running line stage only.

As an attempt to prevent the conversation as going in a big tangent, let’s assume equality of price/quality. i.e. not comparing a $10k power amps contribution to a system to that of a $1k preamp.  Let’s also assume that the amp (tube or solid state) can drive the speakers just fine, such that compatibility does not limit the decision. And ignore mono blocks versus stereo amp differences.  

two follow ons: I have  the perception that preamps give you more bang for the buck - meaning that it takes less money to get a great tube preamp compared to a great tube amp.  Agree/disagree? And second, I have never owned a tube dac or CD player, and will assume that tubes in either of these is less critical than in a preamp or power amp. Agree/disagree?

i am interested in your thoughts.

Bill
meiatflask

Showing 7 responses by axememan

On the lower end of a budget setup[still expensive to me lol]I have the Freya going into Emotiva XPA100’s and you can hear a difference between the "Hat Trick" of outputs.The tube output also imparts some gain increase.Where it really sounds good tho is the tube out of the Freya into the Primaluna Prologue 5 [has KT88’s in it now].So i would say the AMP makes the most difference for the Toobiness.
Wolf,
I also love the Tube Amp guitar heads and combos.My current fave is a DR Z RT 66 into a DR Z 1x12 Convertible cab loaded with a Scumback Speaker.I do not play out,just at home for fun,and I grab up low wattage Tube Amps when I can.BlackStar,BlackHearts[in the 1,5 and 15 watt sizes],Egnators[Rebel & Tweaker],Jet City,Epiphone,VHT Special 6 and a few others.Heck,they don’t take up much space.I actually have 3 of the Blackheart 1 watt ’Killer Ants’ with 2 of them having the Mojo Mod..ie Tone Control and Line Out.Solid State wise I recently picked up a Orange Micro Terror thats kinda neat
I like the Mojo around the Tube Amps and Heads.I have an old 1964 or 65 Kalamazoo Model 1 that sounds really kool for  harp and I bought a Green Bullet mic last year to mess around with.
The amps I got rid of to finance my foray into better Stereo and HT stuff were pretty kool.
Marshall JCM600 & 4X10 Cab Half Stack,
Mesa Boogie 50 Cal Plus Combo and an
 Ampeg Jet2 Reissue Combo that was the personal Amp of the Owner of St Louis Music.
I have flipped a few Amps and Guitars in the last several Years.Heck,I mostly play acoustic.I am more of a Bonfire Troubadour..a 'G','C' & 'D' Blackbelt
If the Tube is driving a signal then the Tube will wear more compared to it glowing with the just the heater filament being lit up while waiting for the signal.
.The powering on and off does cause some stress to the tube from the Hot/Cold part of that process.I know people with Guitar amps that have NEVER changed a Tube yet..after years of use.
All I know is that whatever you get that has tubes it seems to be a blackhole for money if you want to tube roll
.I did not expect that as I was buying up tubes.
I still want more so now if someone in the family asks what I want for Christmas,Bday or Fathersday I'll say" Tubes ".
Between guitar  amps,The Freya and the Primaluna give me 6sn7,5692,12ax7,12at7,12au7 etc.el84,el34,kt66,kt77,kt88 or kt120.
wow,similar fantasy for me.I worked at a TV Shop[actually 2] in the 80's and we had WALLS of tubes.I always wished I'd had the foresite to snatch up a few Peaches Crates full.Didnt mess with guitars then so I did not even dream I'd ever need tubes.The old guy that owned the first shop always said tubes wouldnt go away.If only for the Governments secret tube communication bunkers lol.I also have the same dream now for guitars and amps