Currently pairing a Shindo Vosne-Romanee pre with a Viola Labs Symphony amp driving Raidho D2.1 speakers. Rich tonality, detail, layering, large sound stage, emotionally involving...very hard to shut it down and get to bed at a reasonable hour! |
The truth is that a tube pre cannot give you the tube sound If you use a SS power amp. The tubes advantages are 3D imaging, openness, soundstaging, and presence. The disadvantage is a coloring of the sound. If you use a SS power amp only a tiny fraction of the tube advantages + all of the disadvantages remain. If you want to have a tube like sound with a SS amp you have to use a single ended class a amp (sugden, first watt) |
Very nicely stated and great advice cdk84.
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Has anyone in this thread addressed preamp-power amp electrical compatibility? This interface is also important, like the power-amp/speaker interface. Solid state amps tend to have lower input and output impedances than tubed units. Your preamp's output impedance should be at least 10 times lower than the input impedance it sees in the power amp. Other things being equal, this would favor a transistor preamp into a tube power amp, unless the tube preamp's designer has taken steps to lower the output impedance to where it will work with the lower input impedance of a solid state power amp. There are many exceptions. I have one ss power amp with a 100k input which is similar to a tube amp I have. Check your specifications, people. You need to have good electrical matches between all components before assessing sound quality or comparing "tube" vs. transistor sound. |
Atmasphere, I'm not so naïve to think that that type of behavior hasn't been considered before or even after, but as my Jewish friends might exclaim; "What hutzpah!". |
I have tried a CJ PV12 (preamp) with an older class D NAD amp, but eventually removed the CJ because it imparted too much hum. Now I use a Chord DAC to drive the amp directly and it sounds good, but not nearly as good as my all tube fully balanced Cary preamp and Atamasphere amps - and I'm driving a 4 ohm speaker with a 16 ohm amp with no problems because I’m also using ZEROboxes. Recently, I added an ISOCLEAN wall outlet and power cords and I’m in heaven! I hear so much more detail and the sound is even more natural. In fact, the signal is so clean I have no overly warm tube sound at all. Amps are plugged directly into the wall and other gear is running on a standard outlet with an ISOCLEAN power strip. |
Tube pre with a SS power amp is a great way to drive power hungry speakers and get that great tube midrange and high end and a solid bass. I have a cary slp 05 and classe ca2300 driving some Thiel 3.7s. Nice wide and deep sound stage, very natural sounding. Not edgy or fatiguing at all. I would recommend this combo (tube pre ss power) to any one. Just make sure you pay attention to the output impedance of the pre and the input of your power amp. Need to get a good match. |
^Keep an eye on the output voltage and the input sensitivity as well. |
Well, I can offer an opinion of sorts. Having run all SS for years (Classe, Perreaux), eventually moving away from HiFi for a bit. Upon returning several years later, also started to experiment with adding a tube pre. First, a Quicksilver inserted with the Perreaux (not a good match), then a Bedini and finally a Levinson 23.5. I liked the sound (which is what matter, no?) I continued my quest while building my main system which now comprises an ARC LS17se and a Levinson 333 into Shahanian Hawks, the mating seem to do everything well from Rock to Jazz to classical and back to Folk.
Currently looking to upgrade the ARC to a 5se and move the 17se to my second system. So you can say I am hooked on the tube/SS combo. |
I use a tube Pre (Ayon Eris) and SS Power Amp (Pass x150.8) and it sure works for me.
I note that Rogue Audio build integrateds that use tubes up front with Class D power modules - I have not heard them but they are well reviewed. |
Using my Manley Steelhead to drive newly acquired pr. of Pass 160.8s to my Avalons. Out of the box; the 160.8s had the best control of the bass that I have heard with the Avalons. Day (3) soundstage is wide, deep, layered. Midrange is to die for, highs are getting cleaner and starting to shimmer. Bass is more articulated (micro & macro) imaging is superb. Last bit of palpable imaging and air that I suspect that I would get with tube amps is the only thing I could want yet; but superior bass control is what I will keep. I have been looking into NOS tubes. Not sure what various tubes will bring; but can hardly wait since this will be a 1st for me. So far I am definitely happy with my "divorce from Spectral " Instead of hyper details, I still have the details but everything sounds natural, No listening fatigue!! Sounds great at low, normal, High volumes. We are having our first "cool" spell in the Midwest. Amps keep listening room at 75 degrees!
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Mapman&Atmasphere - pertaining to tubes and Class D - for the past 4 months I have been using an Oppo 105 (Exemplar Audio mod) as a preamp/DAC - this has a tube output stage - next in chain is a Rogue Audio Hydra power amp - this has a tube input stage followed by Class D - I have been VERY pleased with the results! By the way, this is feeding Spatial Audio M1 (open baffle) speakers
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