[capwkidd]

I was thinking about trying a tube pre amp with my D class SS amps.... Would this help give some tube mid/high warmth to the great bass I get from the class D amp? What do you think?

[Big Red Machine]

It's been done many times and works great.

[bladesmith]

I am experimenting with that right now...

[zybar]

I was thinking about trying a tube pre amp with my D class SS amps.... Would this help give some tube mid/high warmth to the great bass I get from the class D amp? What do you think?

Depends on what tube preamp is used.  Not all tube preamps excel at providing warmth and body.

What amps do you have?

What price range are you thinking for the tube preamp?

What features do you need on the preamp?

With more info, we can provide some suggestions.

George

[twitch54]

if mid / high warmth is what you seek why even use a Class 'D' amp in the first place ??

[capwkidd]

I am experimenting with that right now...

Which preamp/amp are you using? Which speakers?

[capwkidd]

Depends on what tube preamp is used.  Not all tube preamps excel at providing warmth and body.

What amps do you have?
- NuForce Ref 9 V2's

What price range are you thinking for the tube preamp?
I am flexible.... $3k around..

What features do you need on the preamp?
Aluminum remote !
Not much... I don't even need more than 2 inputs, as I plan to just run a DAC into it. All my devices are digital...

With more info, we can provide some suggestions.

George

What amps do you have?
NuForce Ref 9 V2's

What price range are you thinking for the tube preamp?
I am flexible.... $3k around..

What features do you need on the preamp?
Aluminum remote !

I am looking at the Primaluna Dialog Three and Cary SLP 98L

Then to figure out which DAC's!

[capwkidd]

if mid / high warmth is what you seek why even use a Class 'D' amp in the first place ??

Theses are some of the best sounding "D class" amps I have heard. They are actually better sounding in the mid than the Pass X150 I had before them....

And of course they have an incredible bottom end to them....

What tube amp has SET mids with D class bass? None I suspect...

[catastrofe]

SAS Audio Labs B11A.  You won't regret it.

[Bill Baker]

With the right combination, you could have everything you are looking for. Class D amps have come a long way and when paired with the right preamp, you would never think you were listening to a Class D amp.

[capwkidd]

SAS Audio Labs B11A.  You won't regret it.

B11A? I found the 11A....

[capwkidd]

With the right combination, you could have everything you are looking for. Class D amps have come a long way and when paired with the right preamp, you would never think you were listening to a Class D amp.

Thanks for the encouragement

[mfsoa]

I am having good success with a VAC Standard MkII pre into a Digital Amp Co. Cherry Plus (high power Class D).

Best of both worlds...

-Mike

[opnly bafld]

B11A? I found the 11A....

"B" (Basic $2849 shipped as opposed to "S" Standard $3049 shipped) has 3 line inputs ("S" has 5) and no tape loop or HT bypass.

A blemished 11A is currently available for $2600.
http://www.sasaudiolabs.com/specials.htm

Agree with catastrofe, great preamp. 

10A is also very good (Basic $1595 Standard $1795).

Lin

[watercourse]

I'm having great luck with my Juicy Music Peach II with a Cherry Plus as well. Just be sure you get the impedance matching correct, otherwise you may limit bandwidth. With your NuForces, the input impedance is around 22K I believe.

The Cherry line has 10K input impedance, which is why I went for a tube pre with a switchable low output impedance (90 ohms), which helps it play well with many different amps with even low input impedances.

I've heard the X250, neutral but a touch on the warm side. I can see how a warm, tubey preamp with the Pass might sound too warm. May be down to the pre, actually, as what I've heard from the Pass amps provides your desired mid/high warmth. The NuForce 9s that I tried in my system was on the cool/thin side, especially in the highs and lower mids, which would likely be accentuated with a "light" sounding tube pre. This was my experience with the "light" sounding Dodd battery pre and the NuForces.

Disagree strongly that Class D amps can't be warm. Have heard a Tripath based amp sound overly warm in fact.

[rajesh]

Hey, your thread caught my attention right away. I have recently purchased a Tube preamp and SS Power amp combo. I intend to dust up my Class D power amp and pair it with the tube pre that I bought.

[capwkidd]

Ut oh! More equipment to try! Maybe I can get the Primaluna Dialog 3, Cary SLP 98L and the SAS 11A all in home at the same time

[catastrofe]

Ut oh! More equipment to try! Maybe I can get the Primaluna Dialog 3, Cary SLP 98L and the SAS 11A all in home at the same time

SAS has a 30 day trial. . .

[Cheeseboy]

Watercourse,

So the Juicy Music got the "Dark Side of the Mountain" going for you?  Glad it worked out.

[bladesmith]

Has anyone had any success with a hybrid power amp..?

(Maybe a hybrid amp with a built in tube line stage..)