1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 197530-181583

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
avanti1960
1,744 posts
 

@mojo771 

I owned and loved tube amps, integrated and power amps.  With the right spekers the sound can be magical and dynamic.  

However my final setup is tube preamp into a solid state amp.  

There is no contest with the speed, microdynamic changes of pace and life like full range scale that a robust powerful solid state amplifier can provide.  

I suggest a 6SN7 based preamp for that golden tone and spacious sound stage along with a smooth power amp full of grunt like my McIntosh MC312.  

It isn't about hit you over the head power, it's about power when called for to deliver the ultra low bass notes without strain or the punch of kettle drums at exciting volume levels that really give you that live feeling.  

Even with my relatively efficient DeVore O/93 speakers the 300WPC Mac just delivers big, bold effortless sound.   Even my former very robust 100WPC KT120 tube power amp runs out of steam before being able to match that life like vibrancy without strain. 

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,920 posts
 

best - high power tube amp (think audio research) plus matching tube pre

second best - excellent tube pre (think c-j or arc) and clean powerful ss amp (think hegel or pass or classe or benchmark)

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,972 posts
 

The mac tube preamps are quite good and have a ton of features (DAC2 bal, RCA nputs etc). MC275 is a mediocre tube amp IMO, I owned one and sold it after trying one of their SS amps. I ran a c2700 and MC275 for a while then switched to the MC301 mono blocks. The MC301’s were a big step up from the MC275 which I felt lacked in many areas that make tube amps great. Sounded more like a SS amp with crappy bass then a tube amp.

If it was me, I would get a used C2700 tube preamp and a SS amp to match. Or a hybrid integrated. I’m personally not a fan of the Prima luna stuff after a few friends owned them, ok for the price but the BAT gear will be better imo.

allenf1963
482 posts
 

@mojo771 

 

I live in Winston-Salem.  I’d be happy to give you an introduction to Chris Livengood at Ember Audio in downtown Winston.  Very nice guy and Ember is an amazing shop.  Chris deals Wilson, Dynaudio, AMG, Rega, Dr. Feickert, Octave, Accuphase, Naim, Simaudio, Hegel, and Fezz Audio just to name a few.  He is having a very good sale right now on Demo and Trade In gear.  Might be worth the short drive.  The traffic can be a nightmare, I know, but I can make it to concerts and sporting events in less than 90 minutes in most cases and I live in rural western Forsyth County.

 

Feel free to reach out.

 

https://www.emberaudiodesign.com/brands

mwood
85 posts
 

I have had fantastic results with a Backert tube preamp and a Pass Labs 30.8. It seems to be a great combination of tube like warmth and serious bass control.

More to discover