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Tube sound Comes, mainly, from? Pre or Power?

I quite like the tube sound and I have become accustomed to it since I was a little kid. So in my own pursuit of the tube sound I have come up with a hypothesis, and I am not sure if it is in fact correct. The way I see it, the phono section and the preamp section pull about a 50-100 multiple the of the amplification done by the power section. Would it be reasonable to assume that the majority of the tube sound would come from the pieces of equipment that do the most amplification (phono and line pre), in terms of multiples? If so this would explain a popular tube pre, solid power combinations that many people utilize. Let me know what you think. I am very curious. Thanks, and please keep in mind that despite the fact that I have been listening to tubed equipment since I was born, I know very little about it and I am in the process of building up my first system.
dfelkai
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syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Power Amplifier
jburidan
803 posts
 
Personally, I don't like the sound of solid state amps or preamps. I think it's due to the prevalence of odd order harmonics. It's a matter of personal preference for sure.

If the signal from the preamp emphasizes the odd order overtones, then it stands to reason that the amp will amplify those overtones.

So, my answer is that tube preamp and amp are equally necessary.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Tvad, you assume rightly. VTL Siegfrieds if lots of power is needed, and the Atmas MA-2 Mk. III monos
if finesse with punch is called for. Speakers are the big Sound Labs.
Cheers and happy listening,
Detlof
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
I like what Al, and Swamp….. had to ssay. In so far as versatility, convenience, and matching of amps to speakers.

I would submit the degree of influence is about 50/50, be it tube pre or tube amp in conjunction with it’s alter power mate.

I have personally heard however some tube preamps which do deliver that solid harmonic richness to the mix purely SS power trains can lack. The tube amp as well plays as significant a role though in providing the retro tube sound..

So, at times I think the choice to tube pre & SS amp is to tweak things, more so than to add purely sonic gains.. Things such as brightness, thin mids, dryness, analytical sounding… etc.

A better intentional matching of a tube pre to an SS amp will indeed result in getting one closer to harmonic nirvana, but only going the whole route will insure that end.

Then too with the current state of tube amps, and preamps for that matter, the retro ‘old school’ sound is only going to come from those topologies using single ended triodes. It’s rrare in my opinion that PP tube amps can pull that sound off… fully. Push Pull will benefit some facets of the sound and give greater flexibility due to their usually higher power ratings alone, but I think exceptions aside, the SET sound is indeed the SET sound and past it, all else is compromise.

As long as ‘compromise’ isn’t out of the question, mixing tube and solid situations is a wide open affair.

I suppose it comes down to just how much of a particular sound or influenced sound, you really want.

The problem as I see it with this controversy is this… most audiophiles need two rigs. Not every stereo nut can afford to do severe justice to two rigs or do not have concomodate space for them… hence we compromise or simply remain frustrated, always seeking out another angle on how to achieve “IT”.

TWO SYSTEMS CAN BE DONE IN ONE ROOM THOUGH… using one pair of speakers… with some thoughtful matching, and swapping speaker cables! It just costs more is all. … and even then some smallish amount of concession is quite likely.

A conciliatory mind is better than one system which tries to serve two masters.… and far less expensive to own and operate.
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