@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.
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
- 67 posts total

