2. analog
  3. 1174275589

tubes and analog

I just "upgraded" from a Mac SS integrated to a Prima luna dialogue 2 tube amp. The reason that I changed amps was that i assumed that the tube amp would be a better match for my Zu Druid speakers. The amp change was a big improvment for listening through my CDP....but not so when listening to my Rega P9. I had to switch to my spare SS phono stage (Graham slee) to get it to sound right. I was using a tube phono (AES) with my Mac. In Short, my tube amp with SS phono stage is not really an upgrade from my Mac with Tube phono stage. My question is.....should i consider a further upgrade to a better tube phono pre or is it simply that a change from SS to Tube amp is more "pronounced" in digital playback?
csmithbarc

Showing 4 responses by psychicanimal

psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Back to the original question:

should i consider a further upgrade to a better tube phono pre or is it simply that a change from SS to Tube amp is more "pronounced" in digital playback?

I strongly suggest to get/build a proper rack and address power filtration in its entirety. Me don't trust PS Audio...me trust Sean & Deano. Search the Jedi archives, young Padwan.

Vibrations will transform into digital jitter. This could be a major cause of digital listening fatigue. Although I'm not against tubes I am against using them to mask system anomalies. Poor room acoustics will exacerbate the jitter issue, especially around 3-4 KHz. It will sound very fatiguing. The rear wall desperately needs treatment and so the first reflection points. Bet you don't have slap echo treatments either.

Last but not least: get the sub out of the equation while you fix this. You might find out it's not necessary at all.

Look Mom, what Ralph Atma, Hagtech, Audiofeil & Raoul didn't come up with!

With psychic power and primal intensity,
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Pualy...thosearenotmywords...I'mnotthatsmart. Just let this guy play audiohile. He's doing good and has $$$. Dealers will love him. It's when people like him hear a system like mine when they have a bad reality check.

I always look good, most always am right yet not always in control. I did figure out big spender's audio problem--unlike the *professionals*...

***
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
This has become shameful. I'm glad Hagtech pulled out just in time.

Behave yourselves.

***
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
The marketplace is speaking. Is the marketplace mad?

Like I said, I am not against tubes but am against using them to mask system anomalies. I think a large portion of tube equipment sales are due to this unfortunate latter use. My system is 100% solid state/monoblock based and my main amps have the 'to die for' midrange and holographic presentation of tubes along with the beef and sonic neutrality of solid state. The subwoofer amps deliver globs of highly controlled current at a very high speed.

My main amps

My subwoofer amps

But that's just me...

At any rate, digital is making great strides and Dan Wright replaced his Atma Sphere amps for Channel Islands digital monoblocks. Hey, it's the 21st century!

***
More to discover