Sounds like you're happy. IME the house brand Hovland Musicaps used in your preamp are mediocre by modern standards, and may be responsible for some of that "SS glassiness" that you are hearing. They were certainly the cause of dryness in Merlin VSM speakers that put me on the road to modifying the crossover and BBAM. In any case it's easy enough to try a coupling cap substitution and find out. You may conclude that your preamp is even more of a keeper than you knew.
Hovland still cuts it 7 yrs on as 2013 approaches
In 2006 I made a fantastic discovery in matching tubes and solid state (SS) with the Hovland HP200 tube preamp and Radia SS power amp, achieving liquidity and power. This combination initially powered my Pro Ac Futures 2 spkrs, followed by Zu Audio Definitions Mk 2s, and now Mk 4s.
In all this time, I've investigated other combinations but none have had the synergy the Hovlands possess.
With my current and most likely final spkr upgrade I'm achieving real transparency, and only now is a hint of SS glassiness evident, although it's highly music dependent, the rest of the time I remain really in love with the combination.
On the Zu Audio Definitions 3/4 thread, I'm being encouraged to go all tube by swapping out the SS Radia with either a SET 845 or OTL power amp, while possibly keeping the Hov pre.
What I'm concerned about is losing a winning synergy in the Hovs with possibly increased tonality maybe at the expense of neutrality that I have at present. Added to the fact that any reticence with current setup is only occasional.
Additionally, I still remain so sad that Hovland folded, they are definitely the longest lived components in my system, and I feel it's a real tragedy that an exceptional company is no longer with us, while decidedly underachieving and overpriced components thrive.
So A'goners, comments on my scenario, and testimonials for the late lamented Hovs.
In all this time, I've investigated other combinations but none have had the synergy the Hovlands possess.
With my current and most likely final spkr upgrade I'm achieving real transparency, and only now is a hint of SS glassiness evident, although it's highly music dependent, the rest of the time I remain really in love with the combination.
On the Zu Audio Definitions 3/4 thread, I'm being encouraged to go all tube by swapping out the SS Radia with either a SET 845 or OTL power amp, while possibly keeping the Hov pre.
What I'm concerned about is losing a winning synergy in the Hovs with possibly increased tonality maybe at the expense of neutrality that I have at present. Added to the fact that any reticence with current setup is only occasional.
Additionally, I still remain so sad that Hovland folded, they are definitely the longest lived components in my system, and I feel it's a real tragedy that an exceptional company is no longer with us, while decidedly underachieving and overpriced components thrive.
So A'goners, comments on my scenario, and testimonials for the late lamented Hovs.