My experience is that a good SS amp (tonally - not bright) with a good to great tube preamp will yield positive results. However, this is system dependent. I use very large, current hungry speakers and a SS amp makes them sing. One must also consider that the "digital" age has made some of the negative characteristics of SS even worse....namely upper mid range grunge as well as a smaller soundstage - depth and width. I find that many tube preamps will bring the soundstage size back and mitigate some / most of the brightness (some recordings cannot be saved). I find that I get 90% of the tube magic with a SS amp and tube preamp - plus the positive attributes of a SS amp - dynamics, bass, reliability, cost etc. Here is a good example of how far SS has come...Tube Research Labs makes a fabulous amp called the Samson which is simply killer and solid state!
solid state vs tubes
has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?
the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.
this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.
if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.
why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.
this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.
if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.
why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?