I’ve owned many different combinations of preamp/amps and so much depends on the speaker you’re driving. For my KEF Reference 3’s, the best combo is a tube preamp and a SS amp with ample power. Currently running LTA MicroZOTL pre, LTA Aero DAC and a Moon 860A V2 amp. Combo seems to work well for me.
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.
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- 67 posts total
@mojo771 bimmerlover said it better than I could. With your room size, SS amplification is likely the way to go. If you want to add some of the tube magic but also blend into the fold the strengths of SS amplification, the Tube on the front end and SS on the back end can deliver. I'm not even sure what the reverse gets you and I've never heard of anyone recommending a SS Pre and Tube Amp combo. I've had all tube, pre & amp in my set up, all SS and a Tube Pre, SS amplification set up. With the right SS amps, SS always delivered more control, grip and ease. A Tube pre or even the right tube DAC offered a splash of tubbiness without some of the draw backs. Now, that's with my ears, in my set up, your ears will tell the story, entirely possible to your ears, you'd prefer a SS Pre and Tube Amplification but would think if that's the way you went, you'd want to roll with all tubes at that point. Good Luck. |
For your large room, I'd recommend going for the tube pre and an MC462 amp. I have in my large room with a C2700 with an MC462 and it is a GREAT combination. I am using Volti Rivals with a pair of REL Carbon Special subs. I like the C2700 pre slightly more than the new C2800 for tone as I had one for a short while. My second system in my office is an MA352, paired to a D150 DAC and it produces amazing sound for much less money. Sure it would fill a pretty large room, but the C2700/MC462 can do pretty much everything you ask it to. |
You never know until you try. In my living room, I have a C50 -> MC275 -> B&W 805D3. In my office, I built all components save the DAC. Pass B1K pre -> (either FirstWatt Aleph-J or Elekit TU-8900) -> ZU DW6. I live in an apartment, so I have to take it easy with listening levels. In the living room, I certainly don't need more power; and the 805's deliver adequate dynamics. There's not much "tube magic" going on there; and I've often wondered if I would have been better off going with a tube pre and SS power. I think doing so, focusing on non-niche SS amps (like my Aleph-J clone), provides compatibility with a much wider range of speakers. Some designs are difficult to drive, and you may need an amp that can deliver sufficient current. In the office, I've only had the current set of components in place for a couple of months; and I can't decide which amp I like more. I don't view this as pure hi-fi, though; because all the components are designed with a warmer, deeper midrange. Vocals and brass are holographic through either amp; but more-so through the 8900. Aleph doesn't disappoint in the mids, and offers some lower frequency dynamics that don't come across in the same way through the 8900. The B1K uses a Korg NuTube for triode as gain - so it's a different kind of tube pre. I'm very interested to hear what something like the hybrid MA352 sounds like; though, I'm not likely to swap out any of the McIntosh gear any time soon. It wouldn't make much sense while my listening levels are limited. Good luck on your search! |
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