Is a tube phono better than ss?


I love the sound of tubes but wonder if its the best route for vinyl playback?
52tiger
Part of this will of course depend on quality circuit design and having very low noise tubes. But I think not enough emphasis has been put on what type of cart you are using. Issues with tube-related noise are going to be much more important if you are using a LOMC without a SUT. If you are using a SUT (don't have any experience with these so can't speak to pros/cons) you are likely to have less tube noise issues since the phono is amplifying a larger voltage signal. For LOMCs that are very low output, you either need an exceptional tube design, a SUT paired with a tube phono designed for MM-level input signals, or a SS design, which again has to be high quality with very LOMC designs but will usually result in a lower noise floor.

However, Atmasphere's comment above gives some interesting food for thought, and I find that he is someone whose advice is usually worth taking into account, even if you decide in the end that you have other priorities or preferences.

So, yup, like many things it comes down to personal preferences and system synergy. The hobby is one of trade-offs and trial-and-error. Forum opinions can be valuable, but always better to hear for yourself, preferably in your own system.
My Zesto Andros AX7 tube phono is extremely quiet, very musical, and very detailed. A significant step up in detail and noise reduction from the $4000 solid state Tom Evans Groove I replaced.

You can find these used now for around $3k.
Its complicated. I have both. My experience is that it mainly speaker dependent. Also a factor is whether the solid state is Class A circuit design. So, there is no clear answer to the question. Best to find a dealer that will let you try various equipment until your ears tell you the 'answer' has been found. It may take a lifetime.
I have been back and forth on owning tube or solid state phono preamps for aseverla years now and conclude that my personal tastes indicate that I much prefer a tubed phono pre over a solid state version. Smooth, grain free and midrange sweetness all appeal to my ears and are just not quite as nice with solid state. My local audio buddies concur. But then we all listen to high quality vinyl from the 60s and 70s, so perhaps the format of the time mandates the technology as well.