I’m a tube lover from way back. I usually have both, a tube pre and SS one. The thing is having them both was a good thing because eventually I sold the tube unit and kept the Spectral. I just found my self using the SS more. It was so different than tubes that I got to see a different perspective on the music and liked it. That being said I still miss some of the things that tubes did and plan to have both again. Only this time I’m stepping up to a better quality tube pre than before. Still can’t let my Spectral go though it’s very good. One of the newer ones but maybe a little over the budget you mentioned. I think SS can excel over tubes but it won’t be cheap. In the $5000 range tubes may be the best bet.
going from tube preamp to solid state
just toying around with this and it might not even happen.
have a tube preamp now and while i might sell this later on and get another preamp.......have there been members that have had a tube preamp, sold it and went to a solid state preamp and kept it ? or did you prefer the tube preamp sound and went back to it ?
maybe got a tube preamp that uses different tubes than the previous one did ?
the preamp i have now, i like the way it sounds, but just not a fan of the 6sn7 and never really have been. i prefer the 6922, 12au7 / 12ax7 tubes better.