Tube Preamp with Solid State Amp?


Greetings!

I’ve seen some folks using Tube Preamps with Solid State Am ps. I’m thinking of doing that with my system as part of an incremental change. I currently have a Parasound P5 preamp with a Parasound A21 driving Klipsch Cornwall 4’s. Will a decent / good Tube Preamp really make a difference in my sound? I enjoy what I have now but really want to experience Tubes in my system. Thanks!
bigjohn9095

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

Short answer, no, hardly any of them.  There are some DACs with both tubed and SS output stages but I cannot think of a single preamp, although I suspect there is one somewhere.  Of the several tubed preamps I have owned, and even the hybrid Lamm amplifiers I have owned, none of them provided what I would consider a tubed sound as you would get with most tubed amplifiers.  As I indicated to the OP earlier in the thread, IME, if you want a tube-type sound, get a tubed amplifier. 
My experience is that some pre/power amplifiers will give you the sound you want and others will not, and it doesn't really matter too much whether the gear is tubed or solid state.  However, you really need to like the sound of your speakers or you will end up chasing rabbits down holes.  If you really want to experience tubes, IMO you should get a decent tube amplifier.  At  102dB @ 2.83V / 1m your Cornwall 4's should sound good at even low'ish to modest power levels and there are many tube amplifier choices that shouldn't break the bank.