I used to have a McIntosh C50 solid state preamp paired with an MC452 solid state power amp.
One of my buddies implored me to try a tube preamp, so I snagged a McIntosh C2500 and immediately noticed that vocals, acoustic guitars, pianos, violins, etc. sounded "smoother" and "more musical". When I replaced the stock tubes with Gold Lions, the sound was even "more musical".
I'm not an engineer but I believe that solid state power amps are better at controlling loudspeakers. Back in the 70's I had a tube power amp and used it quite often, after about a year it seemed that it wore down the tubes, once replaced, it sounded more alive and resolving.
So count me "in" for a tube preamp/solid state power amp vote!
One of my buddies implored me to try a tube preamp, so I snagged a McIntosh C2500 and immediately noticed that vocals, acoustic guitars, pianos, violins, etc. sounded "smoother" and "more musical". When I replaced the stock tubes with Gold Lions, the sound was even "more musical".
I'm not an engineer but I believe that solid state power amps are better at controlling loudspeakers. Back in the 70's I had a tube power amp and used it quite often, after about a year it seemed that it wore down the tubes, once replaced, it sounded more alive and resolving.
So count me "in" for a tube preamp/solid state power amp vote!