Tube Pre and SS Power? Or the reverse?

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!

I'll throw in another vote for tube pre and SS amp/amps. Best combination I've had in over 50 years of audiophoolery. 

I'm running an ARC Ref6 and Pass amps.  The REF6 throws a huge sound stage

and the Pass amps are very warm, they never come out of Class A.  I think its the

best of both worlds and its my end-game system.  Its nice to be done!  

Good luck with your decision.  Let us know.

Regards,

barts

As a young college student in 1973 I used a PAS3X with a Citation 12 for a year and loved its beautiful imaging and solid bass control of my speakers.  Later I has an SP-3a with Ampzilla...that was noisy, but the power was deleriously pleasurable.  Years of all SS ensued, until I got a C-J Motif FET preamp paired with an MV50 tube power amp.  That combo absolutely sang...one of my favorite systems ever.  I have no consistent answer!  My theory tells me tube preamp and SS amp make more logical sense, but my experience is mixed.

i think the particular interest here in this thread is the op’s actual system (his revel speakers with subs, specifically)

it is common knowledge and practice among experienced hobbyists that for many harder to drive speakers, using a tube line stage with a good solid state power amp often gives the best of both worlds (tubey imaging, tactility, fleshiness of tone -- plus solid state bass control, current delivery, cool operation)

this is why there have been many successful so called ’hybrid’ integrated and power amps over the years (by makers such as counterpoint, c-j, ps audio, just to name a few) 

but for the op’s revels, they do dip to 3.7 ohms in the bass region, probably at a fairly severe phase angle, despite their reasonably high efficiency of 89 dbm,,, then his subs handle the deep bass, so while the hybrid approach can certainly work well in this case, he may be able to drive his setup with a nice tube amp from arc, bat, vtl ... to achieve even greater tubey goodness if his room isn't too large  ... and if he can stand the cost and heat... :)