Well SETs do not suit most speakers.Having speakers with a flatiish 8 -16 ohm impedance is really critical to hearing them at their best.But generally I prefer valve preamps with SS power amps and vice versa.The Cary SLP-05 is a very good sounding preamp but you will also need a SS power amp with the right impedance and gain structure to allow its goodness to come through.Many SS power amps impose too much of their own sound.
Comment about SS and Tubes
For the people who have followed by two and only two posts: you know I have all Cary Audio: SLP-05 pre and 805AE mains. I also have the 200.2. I had never used the 200.2 until recently. Front end are Totem Winds and Totem Mani 2 - alternating depending on my mood.
In my first post, several pro SS people recommended I boost my power and go SS. That got me to thinking???
I hefted that big old 200.2 up to my music room and hooked it up to the Balanced outputs of the SLP-05. Kept the RCA outputs going to the 805’s.
I listen to JAZZ so I don’t necessarily need loud. But sometimes I want loud.
Power is good. After a few albums and a bit of streaming I do concede, Power is good. I didn’t realize how good my speakers were until I pushed them. Bass I never knew. And the whole spectrum was astonishing.
On some albums I like the subtle refinement of the tubes. They are awesome to hear. But I am a convert. I do like the watts. My Cary Audio 200.2 is going to get broken in finally,