I USUALLY BELIEVE that matching the amp and preamp is a good idea.
But sources should be a more personalized decision. As for the introduction of tubes in any system, you need to understand quite a bit more about the technology to get the most benefit. Add some patience in dealing with any problems that arise. But it can happen to anyone- you buy an expensive pair of amps or perhaps just a great stereo amp and 2 years later it either gets noisy or just shuts down 2 seconds after you power it up. So it goes to an authorized repair service, and 8 weeks later they announce they still haven't located the problem.
You start to lose patience, and IF management is responsible, they will replace the unit altogether. You finally get to play music again, but you get the funny feeling that paying tens times more than what you once did (with an equalizer, lighted power meters, and extra inputs) made you almost as happy, especially when listening to newer recordings. Of course "now" you can hear more textural details and begin to understand the musicians' and the composer's message more completely. But of course a "true audiophile" has to connect all the pieces together with painfully-expensive copper cables. Strict attention must be paid to the room acoustics as well. You might never escape from the need for prestige. Then you pick up a stereo magazine and they're reviewing
the Mark-3 version of your speakers- a "complete re-work of the circuit design". Makes your system obsolete. You can never win, and you must never go back- only forward towards musical nirvana. The game is rigged!!
But sources should be a more personalized decision. As for the introduction of tubes in any system, you need to understand quite a bit more about the technology to get the most benefit. Add some patience in dealing with any problems that arise. But it can happen to anyone- you buy an expensive pair of amps or perhaps just a great stereo amp and 2 years later it either gets noisy or just shuts down 2 seconds after you power it up. So it goes to an authorized repair service, and 8 weeks later they announce they still haven't located the problem.
You start to lose patience, and IF management is responsible, they will replace the unit altogether. You finally get to play music again, but you get the funny feeling that paying tens times more than what you once did (with an equalizer, lighted power meters, and extra inputs) made you almost as happy, especially when listening to newer recordings. Of course "now" you can hear more textural details and begin to understand the musicians' and the composer's message more completely. But of course a "true audiophile" has to connect all the pieces together with painfully-expensive copper cables. Strict attention must be paid to the room acoustics as well. You might never escape from the need for prestige. Then you pick up a stereo magazine and they're reviewing
the Mark-3 version of your speakers- a "complete re-work of the circuit design". Makes your system obsolete. You can never win, and you must never go back- only forward towards musical nirvana. The game is rigged!!