Tube or solid state

Ok my answer is horrible- it depends 

I have SS system and some experience with tubes. 
 

If money is no object I am buying tube and specifically Audi Research Corporation components. However I am not so I enjoy SS and have been a big fan of Moon by Simaudio. 
 

I’ve own McIntosh tube preamp and it was awesome and used SS amps with it; I heard and ARC integrated amp that blew it away. I rally considered it before I went with Moon. 
 

Consequently my answer is it depends and all the best on your decision in allocating limited resources 

Using a tube preamp with a solid state amp requires impedance matching. Typically, tube preamps have a high output impedance which solid state amps can be all over the place. Having a tube preamp with a high output impedance matched to a low input impedance solid state amp can result in dismal performance.

invalid

822 posts

02-05-2023 at 03:07pm

If it sounds closer to the real thing than transistor amps then it doesn’t matter what wave you measure.

First of all High Fidelity has never been supposed to reproduce reality but to reproduce the recording.

Now, even if it’s hard to believe for someone who never worked professionaly in recording studios, the truth is : at least 50% of what you listen has been created with digital processing in the studio.

But overall the statement of Mr Invalid ...is....as his name suggest  : if the Fidelity (fidelity to recordings) matters : tube technology has to be avoided, since it’s not HiFi by any means for today’s standards.

Solid state also has higher harmonic distortion that can be heard even at lower levels and is not pleasant to the ear, tubes have lower harmonic distortion which is pleasant to the ear and masks the higher order harmonics. I used to think the same thing about tubes as spaceguitarist until I actually used some tube equipment in my system.

@invalid 

I used to think the same thing about tubes as spaceguitarist until I actually used some tube equipment in my system

Perfectly understood and appreciated. As we both recognize, this is a “beaten horse “ debate. In the end each listener settles down with what suits them best. Spaceguitarist does his thing and good for him.  No doubt that you’ll continue to do what has worked out best for you.  I’ll let it go at that.

Charles