SS Preamp with Tube Amps? Don't se it often. Why?


Just a silly question.

Why is we do not see many SS pre-amp with tube power amplifier set ups?

I am sure there are some but I have not seen many.

I Robot.

128x128jerryg123

Actually it is the right way compared with Tube Pre + SS amp which are very difficult to make good sound.

 

@avanti1960 I think AVA does and McIntosh if you were looking for matched components. But you are probably right.

   Another reason is that there are limited (any?) manufacturers that make both a solid state preamp and tube based power amp.  

People are less afraid of low power cheap preamp tubes than high power expensive amp tubes.

This was the issue holding me back from taking the plunge into tube amplification - just pain scared of the arrays of power tubes: cost, biasing, maintenance, do I leave it on all the time and warm up the room, or turn them off at night... etc.

My first exposure to tubes was at a dealer many moons ago listening to Audible Illusions and Exposure (no pun intended) amplification.  Tube sound with no power tube maintenance and fear.

Fast forward to now - I'm running Rogue M-150s off the analog output of my NAD pre/pro for stereo listening.  The tubes cost a lot, and yep - they're a bit of a hassle to maintain compared to SS amps - but wow, the SOUND. 😁