Tube Pre Amp with Digital Amp a No No?

Gee, I hope not since I run a Supratek Syrah pre to a Spectron Musician II. I don't think preamp tubes blow nearly as often as amp tubes. Mick from Supratek said tubes should last 10-12K hours-much longer than amp tubes.
-Patrick

I'm not sure about a digital amp, but people have been using tube pre-amps with solid state amps for years, myself included. It seems to me that blowing a tube would cause the circuit to open much like burning up a light bulb. The odds of the filliment shorting to ground are relativley low.

I am using a Supratek Chardonnay and a PS Audio HCA-2. I love the combination and I tend to agree with Glen, I don't see what would be any different with a digital amp than with any solid state amp. But then again, what do I know.

Patrick, does your Syrah also use 5881/6L6GC's?

I was using Svetlana 6L6GC's and I switched to NOS Sylvania's, the difference was enormous. Mick said in his experience that the tubes in this position didn't make much difference, but not in my experience.

I have also just ordered NOS - GEC KT66's, original 6L6 can types, RCA and Sylvania 6L6G's and the topper, WE 350B's. I will let you know how they sound.

I am using NOS Ken Rad VT231's and 1952 Sylvania 6SN7's from Neville in Australia. They are both excellent.

I am also using a NOS Mullard 5AR4 for the rectifier.

From my experience so far, the NOS tubes have made a big difference over the stock tubes and I am excited about trying all of the 6L6 "family" that I just ordered.

Needless to say, I think this preamp is a killer. I don't see myself getting rid of it for a number of years. BTW, I had a lot of transformer hum from my Supratek, but it was obviously AC line induced. I purchased the AH! AC OffSet Killer and it is now quiet as a church mouse.

I would love to hear the Spectron some day, as I have heard great things.

Aloha,

Warren

Yes, yes. Used the SF Line3 with BelCanto and PS Audio amps successfully.