2. amps-preamps
  3. 174207-10803

Can one have too many tube components in a system?

Especially if one has sensitive speakers? For myself with ZU Omen defs, I have to keep an eye on the gain of the amps I choose since my BHK runs tubes. If gain is too high, tube hiss becomes an issue. However, I see people with tubed amp, tube pre, tubed phono pre, tubed dac......doesn't the tube his (just like tape hiss every time you copy a tape over and over) intensify with every component? Or to pull this off one needs less efficient speakers?

aberyclark
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,153 posts
 

I have two systems. One is all tube and one is SS.

The tube system is in a basement bedroom and by the time the first album is finished, the room is comfy warm😄.

Oh and it’s dead quiet.

JD

secretguy
1,582 posts
 

The tube system is in a basement bedroom and by the time the first album is finished, the room is comfy warm😄. 
 

I hear you. That's why I'm going back to SS.

wturkey's avatar
wturkey
722 posts
 

Welcome to Audiogon where everyone’s tube system is perfectly dead quiet……sans that Clark character. Lol

ebm
9,311 posts
 

Maybe 2 max.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,440 posts
 

I’ve 18 tubes in my three box phono-preamp chain and any barely-audible hiss is well worth the liquid black and dimensional sound. Add in another 10 tubes in the monoblocs and it’s tubes all the way. Second rig is tubes too. Admittedly, speakers are not efficient but are very transparent.

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