Tubes plus SS

I've got a VTL TL 2.5 and a Bryston 4b-st combo that I like a lot (driving Thiels), though I am hoping to upgrade the VTL to a Rogue 99 magnum. I AB'd the VTL and a Rogue (standard edition) driving some Audio Physic speakers with a Krell amp (Cary CD for source) and, all else being equal, liked the sound of the Rogue much better. There are almost as many available combos as there might be folks to have opinions regarding how each might sound. I could only suggest that you mix and match to taste. As a general idea, though, I'd give the combo approach a hearty thumbs up.

I'm happy with a BAT VK3i tube pre and a McCormack ss amp.

My 2 cents worth,my local dealer sells audio research pre amps and krell amps and alot of them.

I have the exact opposite, solid state preamp and tube amp, I am VERY pleased with the sound. YMMV,
Tim

I have a couple of tube amps/solid state amps & I occasionally mix n match them. Solid state and tube stuff do sound 'good'.

BUT, I found that once I had ALL amplification stages running tube (as in my arc ph-3, bat vk-5i, and arc vt100), you take a pretty big jump. All of a sudden the music is REALLY alive with the full-on tube magic. To date that is probably the most engaging system I have.

It doesn't have a wisp of the ultra-resolution that I get from SACD's on my SCD-1/Aleph P/Aleph 2, but definitely more 'alive'.

Swapping a single solid state component into this rig ruins the vinyl playback. Wish I could get my CD's to sound so good...

Anybody out there find a similar effect with a tube cd player ?