Valve phono or valve linestage?


Which do you consider more influential in the creation of the purist 'valve' pluses such as....transparency, harmonic richness, three dimensional realism and soundstage?
I lived with a top valve preamp (which included a phono section) for 25 years.
The last 5 years I've had a top SS preamp (including phono section) but have recently re-installed the 'old' valve preamp and can hear the differences.
What I don't know is......which stage is providing the greatest contribution?
128x128halcro

Showing 1 response by dhcod

With those Halcro amps, tubes tubes tubes. It's about balance. You want to put some air around the Halcro detail. I listened to Halcro amps at a friends over a long weekend with some Eggelston speakers and the spaciousness was really impressive with a tube pre and phono stage. I think we listened to a CJ Art pre and Asthetix phono. It really painted the walls of the recording space.