Audio Research and C/J are always good pieces to find..Tubes aren't usually that big a deal..The biggest question wether tube or s/s is how well the piece has been taken care of and if it has been back to the factory ( or reliable tech. ) for a service check..Keep in mind the peices are old and do need upgrading and upkeep..Also give us more info in the models you seek and maybe we can provide more info................
Questions about Preamp Tubes
Hi,
I was thinking of buying a preamp (tube and SS). Will the tubes need constant replacement? If yes, then I would rather just use SS preamp to save myself the trouble/cost. My understanding is that it becomes very, very hard to differentiate between tube/SS in high-end products; however, is this the case in lower-end models? Will it still be the case in cheaper/older preamps by Audio Research and Conrad Johnson (those were the ones I was looking at)? Obviously I will try to try any preamp out if possible to test for synergy, but I don't want to consider tube preamps at all if they have the above problem.
I was thinking of buying a preamp (tube and SS). Will the tubes need constant replacement? If yes, then I would rather just use SS preamp to save myself the trouble/cost. My understanding is that it becomes very, very hard to differentiate between tube/SS in high-end products; however, is this the case in lower-end models? Will it still be the case in cheaper/older preamps by Audio Research and Conrad Johnson (those were the ones I was looking at)? Obviously I will try to try any preamp out if possible to test for synergy, but I don't want to consider tube preamps at all if they have the above problem.