SS against Tube Preamp


Hi Guys,
I have been adviced several times to get a tube preamp to mix it with my solid state amp. I would like to hear opinions about this combination and if it really change the sound for the better. I don't want to spend my money without to be sure there will be an improve. I mean between the same level.
Thanks,
Jorge.
dvjorge

Showing 1 response by jafox

A tube amp will make more of a difference in better sound.

My experiences after owning 3 ARC tube amps, 1 hybrid Counterpoint, Wolcott and now the CAT, is that the tube preamp brings far more benefit to the decays, ambience and harmonics. The key is to find a preamp that does this. And sadly only a small percentage of tube preamps can nail this. I have dismissed more tube preamps than any other component in the chain because this link is so critical to the 3D performance. And far too many botch this up! No solid state preamp will ever come close to the best performing tube preamps in this regard.

The true is I have listened several Hi End systems using Mark Levinson, Krell, Classe and other high quality SS that don't sound as good as a Cayin tube intregated or Rogue Audio gear. I am not the only one who has noticed that. I don't know where is the secret but some entry level tube gears can match ultra high end SS gears.

My experiences echo this statement for the last 25 years. Krell, Levinson, Classe systems don't come close to nailing the strengths of even a middle priced tube-based system with the "right" components.