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Tube vs. SS Dilemma

Hi there Audiogon Community
Need some serious help and don’t know who to talk to but you guys. I have been upgrading my system for the past year and a half now, selling and buying stuff. First I went the tube route, bought an Atlas Magnum Amp, Cary SLP 03 Tube Preamp, was dreaming the liquidy tube dream, was amazed at the upgrade from an old and tired hybrid amp I had. Sources: estoteric DV50 for cd and vinyl via a Lenco TT and Ear Phono. Mainly listen to jazz, classic rock and some bits of classical.
But got a hold of a Mark Levinson Preamp, a 380 model and had a spare Krell 250a amp, hook the esoteric cd player to this second setup and was just blown away, I always thought that my heart would always be glowing with tubes or at least a tube/ss setup, but man am I enjoying the SS turn, the bass carácter of the Krell is addictive.
So my question is: What is happening? Am I just shocked “temporarily” by the ML/Krell combo? Should I just wait for a while and do a second and third shootout between setups? Or the fact that the ML/Krell combo is much better – in terms of the models I have vs. the tube models – part of the reasons that explain the differences and should look for better tube amp/preamp before seriously comparing the two?
As soon as I listened to the ML/Krell combo, my first thought was to keep upgrading my system the ss way, instead of the tube route, but before I make drastic changes want to hear from you guys’ experience. I don’t want to make this a tube vs. ss question, therefore I hope the details of the inquiry help steer away broad answers in that regard.
Should add the speakers I’m using with all these setups: GoldenEar triton 2’s. Thanks in advance. I always enjoy reading the forum, but now I had to ask the question before declaring this a case of mild audiophile schizophrenia.
Thanks.
musicgeorge11

Showing 3 responses by larryi

larryi
4,188 posts
 
A tube preamp/linestage feeding a solid state amplifier certainly can work, but, my experience has been that the results are even more unpredictable than the general unpredictability of component interaction. One MUST try the specific combination first because it is not simply a case of trying to balance or combine attributes of the two; often the result is bad--murky and dull sound. I find solid state feeding tube to be more predictable (you can get very nice sound but with the slight loss of the large scale and emersive soundstage of all tube electronics).

Cary and Rogue tube gear is like ALL tube gear--it comes with tubes that are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Most listeners are happy with what they get, but, it is possible to significantly change the sound with alternative tubes if one has the patience and the resources to so do. The customizable sound of tube gear is a positive attribute to me, but, it can be a source of frustration to others.

As for the Cary/Rogue vs. ML/Krell comparison, isn't the solid state combination many multiples in price of the tube combination at original cost?
larryi
4,188 posts
 
I would agree that there may be a tube problem if there is a channel imbalance problem only with the tube linestage, but not with the Levinson set at even balance. But, if you used the Levinson balance control to get that dead center image, that is another issue (one reason why I insist on a balance control on any linestage I own).

The ability to change channel balance in .1 db increments with the Levinson (and doing so by logic switching of a single set of stepped attenuators instead of using another set of balance control attenuators), is such a useful feature. While it is challenging to hear a one db change in overall volume playing music, it is actually easy to hear a .2 db change in channel balance. The incredible control flexibility is the primary reason I've kept the Levinson even though I haven't used it for a long time (in a friend's system).
larryi
4,188 posts
 
George,

I agree with Charles that it is good that you listened to alternatives and know what you like. My only caveat is that you should hear as much as you can of both kinds of equipment before actually deciding. There is a WIDE range of sounds for equipment from both camp and an even WIDER range of interactions between components so that it is hard to draw conclusions from just hearing one representative set of each kind. With tube gear, in particular, there is an incredible range of sound, with plenty that will sound warm and sluggish and lacking in dynamics, some with astonishingly fast and dynamic sound, and some that sound very lean and brittle.

I have not heard your specific combinations of gear. I do own a Levinson No. 32 preamp (big brother of the 380). This is a somewhat atypical solid state piece--it is very smooth and reasonably rich sounding, but is a bit "polite" sounding (dull) by top end solid state standards. Some might mistake this for being a "tube" like sound, to me it is still solid state but without an artificial "edge" to the initial attack of notes. There are other examples of solid state that will sound much more dynamic than the Levinson, so you should hear other examples to get a more complete picture.

I am currently running all tube gear and prefer that sound, but, I could easily live with the sound of some solid state amplification gear I've heard, e.g., Ayre, First Watt, Momentum. On the tube side, see if you can hear some output transformerless amps (something quite different from what one normally expects from tubes) such as Joule and Atmasphere.

I would listen to more examples of each kind-you may discover even more surprises.

Good luck on your search. It sounds like you have the right attitude and an open mind when it comes to evaluating gear.
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