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Tube Pre and SS Power? Or the reverse?

I posted a week or so ago about trading in my McIntosh MA352 integrated amp for separates.  

Now my question is, which goes tube and which should be SS?

I have received almost 50/50 responses, even from dealers.  

I have a big room, that has been acoustically treated, Revel Studio 2 speakers, and I'm running 2 SVS subs.

Some say I should go with a C49 SS pre and a MC275 Power amp = about $18k, less my trade-in.

Others say C2800 pre and a MC462 Power amp = $22k.

Quite a big difference.

 

mojo771
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,542 posts
 

Will your dealer let you try both combinations,and let you decide for yourself? 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
6,005 posts
 

I'd like to see the frequency curve for these.
With a big room and these specs:

Ohms (nominal) 3.7 ohms (minimum @ 90 Hz)
Sensitivity     87.7 dB SPL with 2.83 V @ 1m (4 pi anechoic)

I'd probably opt for SS amp and tube preamp.

jl35
4,452 posts
 

I've always gone with tube pre and ss amp, simply because I don't want to deal with tubes for high powered amp...sonically just gotta listen...

nogaps
167 posts
 

For me, If you have reasonably high-efficient speakers(needing no more than, say, 50watts) then there's no reason not to go tube pre and power amp.  If you need more than 50-60watts then use a tube pre and solid state power.  Naturally, some tube power amps can deliver more than 50-60 watts, but you're stepping into a different "region" of tube power.  

mojo771 OP
112 posts
 

I'm trying to find a dealer in the Charlotte area where I can listen to different variations but so far very limited inventory - only the C2800 pre and a MC462 Power amp = $22k.  A different dealer - who seems to be a McIntosh pro - suggested the opposite.  

So there doesn't seem to be a way to compare, unless I want to buy them and then return if I'm not happy, which I don't like to do.

 

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