When I first got into this hobby on a serious level, I always ran an ARC tube preamp - SP6, SP10, SP11 with a Threshold Solid State Class A biased power amp - 400A, SA4e, SA12e x2 - and I never really incurred any issues regarding channel balance, etc. Things were so much simpler back then and matched dual triodes were much much cheaper ;-). |
Cary Audio SLP-05 & First Watt M2x (DIY Version)
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Backert Labs 1.3X to Pass 250.8 works really well....of course there are so many other variables but in my room the dynamics are incredible and the soundstage is vivid. |
I've had a BAT VK5i and VK-500 for nearly 20 years. To my ears, the sound is sublime. |
Some manufacturers build tube phono and line stages and solid state amps for good reason. Keith Herron comes to mind. You often see the same philosophy in integrated amps as well.
I preferred most of my systems that way until I heard the Coda 06x and 07x; rethinking the whole equation. |
I'm thinking about a tube pre to run with my Aleph monos. Currently building a little Korg Nutube B1 as a project with my kid, but would love any recommends for tube pre's that might synergize with Aleph 1.2 |
I have both tube and Solid State amps that I alternate with my tube preamp. Use the SS amp more so in the summer months.
No reliability issues with any of my tube amps of the years. Do not need to bias them all the time either. |
Right now in my main system I'm running an Aric Audio Unlimited pre, with a First Watt J2.
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Rouge 99 Magnum
Mark Levinson No. 436 monoblocks |
Ayon S-10 Mk 2 Signature
Karan KAS 270 |
I run Meixing Ming da MD90's monoblocks with four KT90's a side, using a Yamaha as1100 as a pre amp, which also doubles as an integrated amp. This is essential to troubleshoot the system and tubes when needed. Thankfully my system has been stable for a couple of years now.
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Over the past year, been using a Audible Illusions L3A with a combination of SS amps in this order.
McIntosh MC152
Rowland Model 12
Pass XA 30.5
and now a Levinson 532H
All combinations sounded good to my ears. I’m interested in going for an even blacker background which I think there could be limits with a tube preamp. Kind of a trade off between detail with a SS preamp or a musical tube preamp presentation. I’ve read reviews that the AI L3B provides that blacker background but that’s going to cost me another $3k, so I might change out tubes on the L3A for now to hear what happens. |
Vintage gear: Audio Research LS2B MKII into a pair of Sumo Andromeda IIa MOSFET power amps into Acoustat electrostatic hybrids. 30 years of surviving shoot outs. Maybe they go in the coffin with me..
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Audio Research LS 28 McIntosh 601’s ....... lovely !
The guitar amps comments are interesting. Largely music style
dependent but tubes still rule that world.......solid state is closing the gap though. |
Preamp Aries Cerat Incito S + D-Sonic mono amps or Hegel H30
Jubilant!!!
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Running a Linear Tube Audio MZ3 and upgraded SMc Audio DNA-1. I recently added Iconoclast ICs and am replaying my favorites - very impressed and happy! |
Space tech labs QA112EH preamp into a krell ksa300s amplifier. |
Vincent SA-T1 pre with Parasound A-21 SS=plenty of power and all the extra influencing knobs! |
I have been considering getting a tubed Rogue RP-7 to pair with my Jeff Rowland S.S. Model 12 monoblocks but I was not certain that the RP-7 would be $4500 better than my Classe SSP-800's analog pass through. |
Modwright LS 100 / Simaudio Moon W5.3 SE
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Presence Audio and Parasound JC1s
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Aric Audio Motherlode preamp
Coda Model 16 amp
Burned through a lot of money and hours to get here, but all is forgotten now...there is great symmetry between the two.
TAD CE1 Monitors and a pair of JL Audio F112V2's express this combination of tube and SS brilliantly!
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I just received my Herron Audio VTSP- 360 today to go with my M1 monoblocks and VTPH-2A. |
I've had Herron amps since they were first released. Started out as M-150's but were upgraded to M1's. They were first driven by a Herron VTSP-1, but now a VTSP-3A (r03).
I'm satisfied. |
I have several systems. My favorite sounding system, and by no means most expensive , is a VTL preamp paired with a Phase Linear 400 ! |
Qobuz > Lumi U1 mini > Chord Qutest > PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Pre > McIntosh MC152 > MartinLogan ESLs... |
Coda #16 with a Linear Tube Audio Micro ZOTL Preamp. |
Transcedent Sound Grounded Grid preamp into QUAD 909 power amp. Lovely sound with gobs of power. |
Blue Circle Audio BCS 3000 and either AGD Audions (class D) or Valvet A4s (class A).
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Freya V1 into Nuforce STA 200
LTA MZ2 into Pass XA30.8
Backert Rhumba 1.2 into Belles Aria Monoblocs (soon) |
Main amp rig is:
Aesthetix Calypso preamp
Pass Labs XA60.8 monoblocks
Substituting in
Bryston 7BSST2 monoblocks, or
Classe XA-2300 stereo amp |
Linear Tube Audio MZ3 pre, SPL Performer 800 power. |
Supratek Cabernet DHT/6SN7 and AGD Audion monos (class D GaN). Excellent synergy. |
Been running this way for years and very happy, but…
Previous combo was a ModWright SWL 9.0 SE with an Audio Research 100.2. Wonderful. Later switched out to a ModWright LS36.5 with the 100.2. Even better. Currently LS36.5 with Pass X250 which is a great combination.
But now the but. When streaming or any digital I am bypassing the tube preamp and running my RME ADI fs2 DAC/Teddy Pardo direct into my amp. Really enjoying going direct. Will keep the ModWright when I want to play vinyl… for now. |
Mcintosh mx110z and mc2505 and mc2125 |
I run a modded Dynaco PAS3x into a pair of Hafler xl280’s vertically biamped into Vandy 2ci’s |
Audio Research SP17 and Pass Labs X150. Sounds great to me
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Pre-amp:
PrimaLuna Prologue 3 running all NOS tubes.
Power amp:
Audio Research D400 Mk2.
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Pass XA25 with Linear Tube Audio MZ2. I’ve enjoyed this combo more than the Supratek. |
Most guitar players I know, including myself, utilize tube amps for the simple reason that we want a tube amps distortion capabilities, along with the clean channel. Not because we believe the tube amps to be more reliable. YMMV. |
I totally disagree with the tube reliability. SS is more reliable in both use options. I don't pamper my SS, run wide open sometimes with 6 kW output, 42 years old, only changed caps. |
I specifically mentioned home audio, and the guitar player analogy relates to the reliability of tube gear in general, with professional tube amps seeming far more reliable than solid state. Guitar players play clean and otherwise and generally put gear through much more abuse than pampered home amps. My experience is with both a home audio hobby and a pro gear career. |
@wolf_garcia Guitar players dont really care how much distortion the tube gives off...in fact the more the better. Not a good analogy with home audio, IMHO. |
Over decades I've had far less trouble with tube amps than SS stuff for home audio...plus, ask any electric guitar player. |
Cary Audio SLP-05 feeding a Parasound a21+. Incredibly good, especially with NOS Sylvania tubes. |
Luxman CL38U SE tube preamp. I have a choice. The Bryston 2.5 sst2. Or a pair of modified Class A Threshold T-50 mono blocks. Each amp has 20 IGBT transistors. Modified by Michael Bladelius. |
Pre-amp
Schiit Freya v1
SS Power Amps
Merrill Audio Taranis (Class D)
First Watt F7 (Class A)
I hear clear differences between these two power amps but am inclined to agree with earlier comments by @mapman on reasons for the differences.
Most of the time they are used as follows....
Freya>Taranis>Totem Forests
Freya>F7>Silverline Prelude Pluses
Switching the speakers is possible and sounds great. The lower power F7 drives the Forests surprisingly well BUT there’s no denying the immediacy brought by the high power Taranis (which also sounds excellent driving the Silverlines). |
I moved from Primaluna hp integrated to Rogue RP7 and Bel Canto Ref600M monos class D. Been a tube guy for years but wanted more headroom less heat and less weight. Not missing the tubes so far but only been a few months. Maybe not quite as involving in the mid range but more layers and sound stage is great. |
VAC preamp with Pass Labs / Bryston biamped in my main system.
ModWright LS36.5 and Proceed in my bedroom system |
I have a tube preamp and SS amp (McIntosh C2600 & MC302). I was a tube novice (and ignorant) and appreciate the features and sound.
I've gained a bit more exposure to tube systems and for me it comes down to the results. I've been impressed with Audio Research, VTL and Rouge as well as McIntosh and other SS manufacturers like Moon, Naim.
Enjoy the music and the process. |
