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 5 responses by hifiman5

Tubes are inherently great sounding devices when implemented properly in a circuit design.  Tubes always make the best rectifiers in a circuit.  If I didn't love the sweet sound of my SS amp I really would consider a tube amp especially as it doesn't have to power the deep bass which is handled by two powered subwoofers.

One note of caution...Some tube types are becoming a bit harder to find. ex. 5687.  I would love for Gold Lion to start producing these.  There are still some NOS available but demand is high.
Are some of us becoming a little too "dogmatic"?  And yes Inna, there really are many roads to Rome, so to speak.  I am often astonished to hear about the combinations of components and wires and other set-up tweaks that yield great results for listeners.  But there you are.  We are human beings not machines.  We all have unique hearing mechanisms and have diverse ways of listening and spaces in which we listen.

Who are any of us to tell others what THEY are hearing?
For me, in my system, it is tube pre into SS amp.  However, upon listening to a friend's Martin Logan speakers with a SS pre and top notch Audio Research all tube amp, I realized that the other way around can be just as rewarding in the right set-up.  Until hearing that I didn't think electrostatics could get past the somewhat plasticy sound of the mylar diaphragm.  Didn't hear any of that with that tube amp. There was a harmonic completeness that my previous experiences with 'stats had never yielded. Beautiful music and a new healthy appreciation for the musical capabilities of electrostatic speakers.
@wolf_garcia  +1 about the Gold Lions.  I have two 12AU7s in my line stage and a GZ34 rectifier in my SACD player's outboard power supply.  Have you ever checked into sourcing them from Cryoset?  Ron Sheldon's GL's seem to last a long time and stay quiet in circuit.