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Tube Preamp/solid pwr amp or solid pre/ tube pwr

This is probably an old question but I dont see any threads. I presently have a CJ Tube Preamp/solid pwr amp which I quite like, but I am re-evaluating the whole setup since I picked up a pair of Nautilus 802s / Ayre CD player. It is obviously a matter of sound preference but I would like to get some views of what each setup would bring - pros and cons.
Appreciate it.
J.
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Showing 4 responses by charles1dad

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Mechans,
Your opinion does counter conventional wisdom but I agree with you. If you`re after the 'tube effect' i.e. 3-D, the tube power amp has more influence than the Tube pre with SS amp(not saying this approach does`nt work for many however).
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Well said and reasoned Raquel. I feel the proliferation of low impedance speakers(and lower efficiency) was a wrong move in high end audio. Done most likely due to the relatively cheaper cost of power with the advent of SS amplifiers.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
chuck,
I think we all agree that ultimately speaker choice will detemine which amp is preferable. The answers above were hypothetical.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Hi Minori,
I don`t see where anyone has said tube pre with SS amp can`t sound wonderful.The point being expressed(at least to me) was that tube amplifiers are more likely to provide what was called the"tube effect"(system influence) more dominatly than a tube preamp more often than not. There are numerous ways to constructing a satisfying audio system without question.
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