Tube Vs. SS Preamps


Oddly in +25 yrs in the hobby, I’ve never really owned a tube preamp. Can you comment on what the differences are in general sonic terms? I want a really fatigue free sound with lots of body (I run class A and class AB solid state amps).

Do you find SS preamps to be fatiguing typically, more so on average than tube ones? Or is it simply the added bloom that's appealing with tube preamps?

greg7

Showing 1 response by surfmuz

Dogmatic approach to the question is wrong. Individual preference should be on the first place. Personality, I prefer tubes in pre amplification. I moved to tubes from SS in my main system about 15 years ago and never looked back, however I still have SS preamps in my two secondary systems so I’m getting proof of tubes superiority any time I’m listening there.
Recently I had chance to talk to one of my kid’s friends who appeared to be an audio Ingener… :) Young fellow has own opinion on SS vs Tubes….He said that old guys love tube sound cause it’s reminds them sound how it was long time ago, when they were young, when grass was greener and candies sweeter, but It has nothing to do with sound quality.. he also mentioned that his generation prefers SS as it’s their “greener grass” and “sweeter candies” :)