In fact, you ask others to describe the sound which you never heard, I will say it is very difficult. Usually on the forums,they all have some kinds of listening,and above of that,they exchange the comments.
I know your question,which is : After so many years listen on SS amp only,you want to explore something new,and see if the tube sound is better for you. right?
If that is the case,you gotten go and listening by yourself somehow and go back asking the question. That is the normal procedure,in my opinion.
|
You are asking the wrong question. What tubes offer that SS cannot compete with is space. You hear a soundstage where vocals and instruments have their own space. While this is a generalization, that is the difference between many reference level comparisons. While some like the 6H30 tube sound, to me it sounds SSish so in my experience, then just get a SS components. The real question is what are you looking for from your system and in what price range.
Once you know what you are looking for then you need to audition them. Take your time and enjoy the search.
Happy Listening.
|
My experience is the sound is different.
My initial systems were entry level SS and I acquired McIntosh C2600 tube preamplifier - it was a dramatic improvement. Using an analogy the music was clearer - I could easily hear specific instruments in the context of the song and had a better sound stage of where the musicians were playing.
I've also heard very good SS preamps. I recently auditioned one as I consider upgrading and evaluating a pure linestage preamp with separate phono stage.
Listening side by side to a series of songs, the sound was different from the McIntosh and to my ears it was 'clearer' and frankly my first concern was would the sound be irrating so I played some songs where there could be harshness.
Ultimately, I think the difference is the audible nature of distortion. SS can have much less distortion and a whether tube or SS a well designed tube preamp uses the distortion within its sound singature.
|
In one of the old Vacuum Tube Valley magazines I remember reading an article about the supposed advantages of tubes vs solid state audio. Among several listed reasons for tube gear "sounding" better was that tubes emphasize even order harmonics, whereas solid state emphasizes odd order harmonics.
|
As others have described above, I find tube to offer sound with better texture, saturated harmonics and a presentation that seems to bloom naturally into the listening space. I think good solid state can sound smooth, natural and lacking in artificial edginess, but, I tend to find something missing that makes the sound seem flat and less engaging. I own a pretty decent solid state linestage (Levinson No. 32) but, I prefer my custom-built tube linestage (310 tube).
While you may get a "taste" of tube sound with a tube linestage, I think the electronic component that has the biggest impact is the amplifier. The right tube amplifier will make a huge difference (the wrong one likewise will sound quite bad). It is harder to find the amp that will mate well with a particular speaker than it is to match any other components, but, that is, to me, the big step in improving one's system.
|
I like Macs most of them.. I love the older C11,20,22 or the MX110z they are all wonderful when restored or not, depends.. I really like some of the SS pres . C45, MX120, 121, and 150. I like my C2500 too, what a nice preamp.. Macs are simple to please. Use Telefunken valves in their preamps.. If you do work on the units stay away from yellow polly cap rebuilds.. They were built with PIO, rebuild with PIO.. LEAVE the Black Beauties..
Regards
|
@jjss49 perfectly worded my observations.
@mulveling 's advice matches my experience. After using I number of 6922/6DJ8 and other "roller" preamps, I found more satisfaction with a 6H30-based design, used in many BAT & Audio Research models. Some may see a downside in no compatibility with all the legendary, exotic vintage tubes. I've overcome that by wearing the Amperex Bugle Boy logo on a tshirt while I listen to my 6H30s. Cheers,
Spencer
|
I use an MSB S-200 SS power amp, and a Herron Audio tube preamp; it's a great preamp, cause it looks like it's SS - no tubes sticking out anywhere and the sound is about as neutral as you can get with tubes; works very well with the MSB as that is a very uncolored amp.... I let the speakers supply the warmth I like....
|
If you’re not sure whether you want tube or SS sound, check out the 6H30 based preamps. Great tube! Super clean, linear, and resolving.
If you want a more traditional "sweet" tube sound, I'd stick to those that use 6922 or 6SN7 in their circuit.
|
@greg7 if you decide to try a tube preamp with your solid state amps, treat yourself to a nice one if you can. One piece that never gets rotated out is my triode 6SN7 based tube preamplifer. Works amazingly well and musical with SS or Tube amps.
|
Typically there used (30 years ago and earlier) to be fairly large differences between the two camps. But they step by step converged closer to real music and to reflect more the designers intent as opposed to detailed but harsh versus warm and lacking detail. Of course it also depends on the price range. Inexpensive stuff is made with components chosen for cost and not sound quality.
However, there are still some residual differences in well implemented tube components versus well implemented solid state. My evidence is that over the last 50 years (starting with the preamp), slowly, one by one all of my equipment have become tubed and my system now sounds an order of magnitude better than in the past. There is a midrange bloom and authentic character to the bass I haven’t hears from solid state. My equipment imparts an emotional connection I have never been able to achieve otherwise.
On the other hand, if you are looking for the absolute last word in detail (minuscule difference) and slam, many people still like solid state. They also state not wanting to have to replace tubes (typically every 3,000 hours or more). My own theory is that some of slam is artificially created with a lean midrange and very fast transients SS amps can give you. But to me that robs you of some of the rhythm and pace (the emotional connection and musicality).
To me, the preamp is the most critical piece of equipment, and was my first to choose tubed... Audio Research... my preferred brand. You can see my systems by clicking on my ID.
|
I just noticed, you are highlighting your question toward Preamps.
I had McIntosh SS C28 Preamp, highly regarded by many. I much prefer my McIntosh Tube Tuner/Preamp mx110z to the C28 (or any prior Preamp).
mx110z’s MM Phono (2) is wonderful, I use a SUT for MC to keep using the mx110z MM Phono.
you also get McIntosh's Versatile Mode Switch, balance, loudness for low volume, ...
If it died, even though they have gotten pricey, I would get another one without hesitation, ship it from seller directly to Audio Classics!
|
I’m 73. I started with tubes, went to SS, low powered SS Receiver, then powerful McIntosh SS Amp and SS Pre for inefficient speakers for a few years. Returned to tubes and efficient horn speakers, couldn’t be happier.
All along, I always had 30-35 wpc tubes set up as alternate.
Each and every ’listen-off’ I had here with friends, everybody picked LP over CD and Reel to Reel over LP.
Each and every time everybody picked tubes over SS.
I sum it up as: analog gets the overtones ’right’.
|
@fuzztone 's pithy reply is well stated imo
high level solid state is not fatiguing at all, if well matched through to the speakers
but top tier tube gear gives a degree of bloom, palpability, richness of tone, and expansiveness of imaging that can sometimes be elusive for all solid state systems
|
No and no.
It's about musicality.
|
