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Too many tubed components in the system?

As a newbie to the tube side of audio, is there such a thing as too many tubed components in the audio signal path?

I have an Audio Aero CDP that has a tubed output stage, have just bought a tube amp (VTL ST-150) and am considering either a tube active linestage or passive linestage.

* Will having an all-tubed component audio chain sound too tubey? Does the concept of "too much of a good thing" apply to tubed reproduced music?
* If the answer above is 'Yes' then is there a max. number of tubed components that one should have in their system and if so then what should they be? (e.g. CDP+preamp vs CDP+amp vs preamp+amp)

Thanks for your insights.
kevinzoe

Showing 2 responses by gunbei

gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I think if you put two 300Bs under each armpit you'd still have room for plenty more.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Actually, I think it depends on the design and implementation. You can have a lot of tubes in a well designed set up and suffer little sound degradation, but the opposite can be true as well.

Having fifty pairs of Salma Hayek's tubes in a row is a very good thing. If it were 50 Ellen Degeneres' tubes, I'd definitely go with solid state.
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