I love how every question is viewed as an invitation for a word-salad description of everyone’s systems: "I’ve been running my Socrates Coriander Maxi-Spinnakers (the XLT with the optional basin reinforcements) with a Blue Trident Axolotl directly integrated to a bi-wired Dimetrodon...and that is my bathroom system..."
Not that actual equipment configurations isn’t helpful info...but for some people I think their real hobby isn’t even music or gear, it is simply talking about their gear by concatenating multi-syllabic words. To each his own.
Anyway, a bit of practical input. I’ve had tube power amps and tube preamps and you definitely get the most "tube-like euphony" from power amps. However, I did find that tube rolling super vintage tubes in a good tube preamp (my current one is a BAT...too short a name for the hobby) does also provide that.
BUT: I have found that most new (i.e. modern production) tubes have a more solid state type of sound, or at least do not offer as much of that syrupy euphony. It really is the vintage ones that have the most effect, and those are quite expensive and very difficult to match.
So, if you go tubes, even preamp, be prepared to spend substantial amounts per tube to be able to experiment and get to your desired results. I’m sure the impact of tubes differs gear to gear, and YMMV and all that. This has just been my experience.
Not that actual equipment configurations isn’t helpful info...but for some people I think their real hobby isn’t even music or gear, it is simply talking about their gear by concatenating multi-syllabic words. To each his own.
Anyway, a bit of practical input. I’ve had tube power amps and tube preamps and you definitely get the most "tube-like euphony" from power amps. However, I did find that tube rolling super vintage tubes in a good tube preamp (my current one is a BAT...too short a name for the hobby) does also provide that.
BUT: I have found that most new (i.e. modern production) tubes have a more solid state type of sound, or at least do not offer as much of that syrupy euphony. It really is the vintage ones that have the most effect, and those are quite expensive and very difficult to match.
So, if you go tubes, even preamp, be prepared to spend substantial amounts per tube to be able to experiment and get to your desired results. I’m sure the impact of tubes differs gear to gear, and YMMV and all that. This has just been my experience.