Started with a Yamaha A-S501 solid state integrated amp. Good sound.
Put a Xiangsheng 728A tube preamp in front of it. It was a firm change from the good SS setup to a setup that had musicality, if that means anything.
Dropped both and went to a Quicksilver Audio Integrated tube amplifier. I cannot imagine more musical reproduction. I can imagine more of a you-are-there sound, more separation of instruments (as if I ever cared about that in a club or concert hall), but not more musicality. And then I'd need a new listening room and new speakers, too (Focal Aria 906's throughout the above).
Put a Xiangsheng 728A tube preamp in front of it. It was a firm change from the good SS setup to a setup that had musicality, if that means anything.
Dropped both and went to a Quicksilver Audio Integrated tube amplifier. I cannot imagine more musical reproduction. I can imagine more of a you-are-there sound, more separation of instruments (as if I ever cared about that in a club or concert hall), but not more musicality. And then I'd need a new listening room and new speakers, too (Focal Aria 906's throughout the above).