[marksas]

What's the consensus, if there is one, on using one tube component over the other in conjunction with solid state?  So if you had to choose one over the other, would you employ a tube amp and a solid state preamp or a ss amp with a tube preamp? 

[dolsey01]

IMHO the general consensus would be tube preamp, SS amp.  That way you get the best of both worlds, some tube goodness but power to drive any speaker.  That being said, wattage is overrated when it comes to tube amps.  My 50W tube integrated has no problem driving my Martin Logan electrostatics and there is no woolly bass or treble roll off. 

[RPM123]

That would depend on your speakers and how well the amp interfaces with them. Some speaker designers such as John Devore tend to have tube amps in mind when designing speakers. Very generally speaking though, speakers that have impedances dropping below 4 ohms, will likely benefit from a SS amp. I use both a tube preamp and tube amp. However, I occasionally wonder how a SS amp may sound and some day I may get around to it. If you can try various some combos, so much the better.  Many manufacturers offer a 30 day trial period. Good luck.

[marksas]

I agree, the speakers involved are an important factor, but taking them out of the equation, which component delivers the tube quality sound people look for, er listen for? 

[RPM123]

Both can and can be further tailored with various tubes like the early Mullards for a "lush" midrange, to suite your taste. You can start with a tube based pre, try that for a period and then add a tube amp later.

[RPM123]

The Brent Jessee recordings website and Brent himself can be very helpful in determining particular tube characteristics that you are looking for.

http://www.audiotubes.com/

[Yomaha]

Any tube preamp makers that the board is fond of, in the sub $2k range?  I've seen the Don Sachs reviews here, and I've looked at the Dennis Had tube pre. 

[rockadanny]

BEWARE: As you begin adding tubes to various gear in your system you will be seduced into adding more and more. Eventually you will end up with an all-tube system, as long as your speakers cooperate. Just sayin'. 
(That's what happened to me, anyway.)

[marksas]

Haha, tell me about it, i've already purchased a tube DAC!

[Freo-1]

Tube gear can be very seductive.  I've tried both setups:  SS pre with tube amp, and tube pre with SS out.


Personally, prefer SS pre to tube amp.  The advantages of tubes seem more noticeable when using a tube power amp.  I would consider using a Benchmark DAC2 HGC as both a high end DAC and preamp, which also can accept analog vinyl inputs.  Provides a great input to a tube power amp of your choice. 


One other thing I've noticed is that tube amps do not always do well with large floorstanding speakers with complex multi way crossovers.  They seem to like two way setups better.   

[Wind Chaser]

If we are talking about a bi-amplification, then SS is perfectly acceptable, even desirable for LF duty. That's why it is ubiquitous in subwoofers.

Now assuming your goal is to obtain the best possible sound quality, you need to understand that loudspeakers, no matter how good they are, they don't reveal anything that ain't delivered. That should be obvious, albeit dogma to the contrary.

Bottom line, there is no substitute for a great tube amp. If sound quality is your top priority, you will fall in love with a top quality SET when you hear one.

There are many nice tube amps, and even some average ones too. But the most extraordinary amplification I have ever heard regardless of price - and not watts - is single ended triodes.

I have (and had) a few different amplifiers and speakers in the house. And here's the thing, the best speakers with a lesser amp, even though it is a widely and highly regarded SS integrated amp, that pairing doesn't sound anywhere as defined, tuneful and three dimensional as the much lesser speakers with the modestly powered SET. Go figure!

And TBH, none of the speakers in the house are an ideal match for an 8 watt amp, but for the volumes I listen at, it is more than plenty. 

[marksas]

Thanks for the input guys.  @Wind Chaser, ive certainly read lots of positive opinions about the Benchmark DAC2 but unfortunately it's above my budget.  For now I'm going to try the Jolida Glass FX DAC III that I just picked used. 

For the record I'm using Tekton Lore Reference mid towers, which people seem to power with both SS and lower output tubes.  I'm using a Peachtree Audio Nova that sounds nice, but I'm looking for the potential next level

What SET amps are worth considering for under $2k? Maybe under$1k

[Escott1377]

I am a big fan of the Manley Shrimp.

I always thought it responded well to tube rolling and you should be able to find used for <$1k.

This is my current pre amp - http://www.transcendentsound.com/Masterpiece.html and I had someone build for me.

I quickly changed the stock 300B's to these: http://www.emissionlabs.com/datasheets/EML300B-mesh.htm.

It is a VERY NICE sounding pre.

[OzarkTom]

OTL amp with tube pfe or SS amp with tube pre. That gives you the most detail and transparency if that is what you like. Class AB is too grainy, Class A and just one Class D amp is the best for SS. Moscode amps are nice also.

[yeldarb]

I've used an AVA pre-amp (tubed) with a Sonographe solid state amp for years.  Sounds great with my Tekton Lore.  And the amp is under no stress whatsoever, even at ear bleeding levels.  Van Alstine has a new basic tube model pre that might be what you are looking for.

[rotarius]

I used to always mate a good SS amp with a tubed preamp.  The tubes always seemed to flesh out the midrange and soften the bass.  When I added a tube power amp a couple of years ago, it was an eye opener.  It was a Primaluna and everything sounded so much smoother, a real treat for someone who listens to classical like me.  Not to mention the midrange magic of EL34 tubes!  The only down side was a loss in slam and tight bass.  The Jolida I have is much better than the Primaluna in that regard.  I am not going back to a SS amp.  Even my non-audiophile wife noticed how much better a tube amp was and wondered why I never used one until then.

[JLM]

-

[marksas]

I've used an AVA pre-amp (tubed) with a Sonographe solid state amp for years.  Sounds great with my Tekton Lore.  And the amp is under no stress whatsoever, even at ear bleeding levels.  Van Alstine has a new basic tube model pre that might be what you are looking for.

Those AVA preamps look really nice (both SS and tube), very simplistic designs.  I like that they offer the HT bypass option, i use that now in my amp.