Tube Preamp with Solid State Amp?


Greetings!

I’ve seen some folks using Tube Preamps with Solid State Am ps. I’m thinking of doing that with my system as part of an incremental change. I currently have a Parasound P5 preamp with a Parasound A21 driving Klipsch Cornwall 4’s. Will a decent / good Tube Preamp really make a difference in my sound? I enjoy what I have now but really want to experience Tubes in my system. Thanks!
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Showing 1 response by crustycoot

I've done it both ways; SS pre w/ tube power, and tube pre w/ SS power.  Both have worked depending on the speakers...the most synergistic combo will depend on the surrounding comps, room character and your listening taste.  That's our hobby!  Right now I do as 'oldheavymec' suggests: tube pre split output to SS for woofers and tube power for mids/tweets.  I installed a gain pot on the SS amp to balance things and it locks in nicely. 
My gear: not high end...Chinese Zero-Zone CJ clone pre, hot rod ST70 (VTA driver), Akitika GT102, and home brew speakers with Dayton 7" RS woofs, Morel Twee-mid domes and Dayton crossovers.  1 cu ft enclosure ported to 33 Hz cutoff.  Also have a Dayton 8" powered sub in the low frequency circuit with DSP to add some extra oomph and eliminate any bass slop from the ported woofers when playing vinyl.