A modern tube preamp shouldn't sound bad at all. I think want you must mean by "tubey" is slow,syrupy and rolled off. I have found none of that, using both a tube pre and amp of recent manufacture. Instead I have brilliant transparency halographic imagery and excellent tone. As always it comes down to system building. That said if I were to sub out a tubed component it would be the pre, because I think the tube output from the amp has the best influence on the sonic.
Prima Luna three or Adcom GDP-750?
I am looking for a preamp on a budget at around 850 or so. I need one that fits well with my system. Current amp is AES Six Pac mono, DAC MF Tri Vista. The Prima has gotten some very good review but I am afraid combined with a tube amp, the overall sound might be too tubey. I'd like to have an overall sound that somewhat accurate but not too much detail that will detract from the music.
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