Tube vs. SS Dilemma


Hi there Audiogon Community
Need some serious help and don’t know who to talk to but you guys. I have been upgrading my system for the past year and a half now, selling and buying stuff. First I went the tube route, bought an Atlas Magnum Amp, Cary SLP 03 Tube Preamp, was dreaming the liquidy tube dream, was amazed at the upgrade from an old and tired hybrid amp I had. Sources: estoteric DV50 for cd and vinyl via a Lenco TT and Ear Phono. Mainly listen to jazz, classic rock and some bits of classical.
But got a hold of a Mark Levinson Preamp, a 380 model and had a spare Krell 250a amp, hook the esoteric cd player to this second setup and was just blown away, I always thought that my heart would always be glowing with tubes or at least a tube/ss setup, but man am I enjoying the SS turn, the bass carácter of the Krell is addictive.
So my question is: What is happening? Am I just shocked “temporarily” by the ML/Krell combo? Should I just wait for a while and do a second and third shootout between setups? Or the fact that the ML/Krell combo is much better – in terms of the models I have vs. the tube models – part of the reasons that explain the differences and should look for better tube amp/preamp before seriously comparing the two?
As soon as I listened to the ML/Krell combo, my first thought was to keep upgrading my system the ss way, instead of the tube route, but before I make drastic changes want to hear from you guys’ experience. I don’t want to make this a tube vs. ss question, therefore I hope the details of the inquiry help steer away broad answers in that regard.
Should add the speakers I’m using with all these setups: GoldenEar triton 2’s. Thanks in advance. I always enjoy reading the forum, but now I had to ask the question before declaring this a case of mild audiophile schizophrenia.
Thanks.
128x128musicgeorge11

Showing 2 responses by rsimms

I also like a tube preamp and a SS amp. That said, some SS preamps are very good too.

I think you are dead on in staying open on the tube preamp issue. I rolled tubes in my preamp until I had synergy with my warm McCormack SS amp. I found that synergy with the cool stock tubes. They complimented each other with an overall more neutral sound that I preferred. I changed to NCore amps and found the system sounded very thin. Rolling warmer tubes in the preamp, I found much greater synergy. If I relied on just that quick test, I might think that the tube preamp or the NCore amps suck. It was just that I was just using tubes tailored for the first amp. FWIW, the NCore amps sounded great bypassing my tube preamp and going directly into the amps too. However, I am a tube guy.

Bob
Unsound, “warm” might not be the most accurate word for it. Euphonic might be a better word for the McCormack. Or, maybe I could describe it as more pleasing and less plain!? Do you have a word for it?

Bob