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Digital Source with Tube Amplification

For perspective, I will be turning 36 next week so I didn't grow up listening to vinyl and have never really experienced tube amplification. I am getting a Yaqin EL34 tube integrated in the next couple of weeks and my dad thought it would be fun to use his vintage turntable as a source for a true analog listening experience. Logistics will likely make this difficult as we live states apart.

This discussion made me wonder what other peoples experiences have been using different combinations of gear. On the analog end you have a turntable and tube amplifier and on the digital end you have a CD player and a solid state amplifier.

I am curious if the people that prefer the analog systems enjoy the sound of a turntable with a solid state amplifier or a CD player with a tube amplifier more. Is one combination more analog sounding than the other in your experience?

Obviously, every experience and system is different so I am just looking for general observations based of your experiences.
mceljo

Showing 7 responses by charles1dad

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
I use a SS DAC with tube preamp and amplifiers and just love the organic gestalt and deeply emotional involvement it provides ( I had used a turntable happily for many years).
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Your asked a pretty general question and were given some responses, what specifically are you trying to ascertain?
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Mceljo,
In a sense I understand why you're frustration with "conditional" answers and your desire for a more definitive reply. I'm afraid Almarg is right, there's no other choice. Given the multiple variables involved it's impossible to get a direct and all encompassing answer, just can't be done. Between the numerous components (all have a signature) room effects and of course different listener perceptions , how can it be any other way? Caveats are unavoidable. CD-tube gear, ok which brand? Each is different. Turntble-transistor gear , again, which brands? What cable is connecting the multiple components? Which speaker is chosen and driven by what amp?
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Mceljo,
There's no shortage of opinions given on this site (thousands over the years) but definitive conclusions, no.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
In keeping with the hypothetical choices/ pairing options put forth by Mceljo I'd take CD with tube electronics rather than analog record with solid state electronics. I'll skip the caveatscable.
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Hi Larryi,
I have a fairly large collection of jazz on viny(from my analog past) and
they sound very good. Fortunately for me the vast majotity of my jazz CDs
sound very good also, I can't speak for other genres (I have some classical
CDs that are quite good as well). The bigger gap in my experience is with
the electronics. DHT tubes either SET or push pull just excel at the natural
realism I consider vital for my enjoyment. IMO the CD- vinyl gap is narrower
and either format works for me. Larryi I agree with you, some higher power
pentode type tube amps aren't any better than SS amps. It seems we have
similar hearing. Larryi The overwhelming majority of the jazz CDs from
remastered analog 1950-60s sound excellent in my current system.
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Larryi,
Yes I'm aware of good original vinyl and own a nice amount of them. I took a few of my albums to a good friend's home today and we listened to them and some CDs. He has a Basis Debut TT and just installed his new Basis Superarm 9 with his trusty ZYX UNiverse II cartridge. This arm is definitely a step above his vector arm (and that was a good arm!). His analog front end is making superb quality sound, however he also produces truly excellent sound with his Mod Wright modified Oppo 105 as well. He has it covered in both formats and we heard some beautiful natural sounding jazz today.
Charles,
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