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Tube pre- or amp: does it matter?

Hi,

I'm considering introducing a tube component into my system (Cary 306/200, Placette pre, Macintosh 300, Gallo 3.1) to bring out a little more depth, staging and musicality. I'm willing to start from scratch with both the pre and amp. If I were to balance tube and ss, is there a rule of thumb about whether it's better to have a tube for pre or a tube for amp? All things being equal (which they seldom are) would one make a bigger difference in sound than the other? In my electronic ignorance, I'm wondering if there might be something about whether the tube is closer to your source or closer to your speakers. (Of course, I may end up with tube for both.)

Thanks for any help,
Bob
holderlin

Showing 1 response by spiro

spiro
115 posts
 
Another thought would be to also listen to the hibred amps.
I had a Moscode, which was tube input and S.S. output. 300W. Old circuits I assume as there was something about that unit that was lacking air. but alot of tube gear can seem that way. As well, S.S. can seem thin and shrill.
But there is a CJ that is tube in and mosfet out and that might also allow, (maybe) for a passive pre, which can add clarity that few powered pres can match.
If i had to do it, I'd get a VAC, or Joule pre, or an ARC and run it into S.S. That way you are amplifying music, even if thinning it out; as opposed to squashing music or squashing thin sound with tubes. I'm trying to figure which could be the worst outcome, and I think I'd go tube pre or tube hibred amp.
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