Tube Amp or Tube Pre Amp

For those of you who have experience with tubes, what would be your preference.

Tube Amp with tube preamp, Tube Amp with solid state preamp, or Solid state Amp with tube preamp

My system currently is Mcintosh MC352 Amp Solid State, Mcintosh C49 Pre Amp SS, Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers.

I want to try tubes so with my current set up should I go tube amp or tube preamp?

Thanks

referee110-18-2024 3:53pm

thermionicemission Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 17 posts 10-19-2024 at 03:30pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete +2 @larryi Amp and speaker matching is paramount. From personal experience, I have tried a McIntosh 240, Marantz 8b, and a McIntosh 462 with Cornwalls. While the tubes amps sounded nice, the 462 was on another level which your 352 should be as well. I have used a McIntosh C22 MkV and Fisher CX-2 with all the above. Personally, I would sell the C49 and try the C22. The C22 responds surprisingly well to tube rolling. I settled on. Telefunken ECC801S in the output, Telefunken ECC83 in the input, and Amperex ECC83’s in the phono slots. Bottom line, solid state amp and tube preamp. Happy listening!