As I come out of the economic turmoil that has been present these last few years, my thoughts are slowly gearing up for a year in 2012 that will allow some upgrades. I see people having all tube-gear and/or all solid-state, and I'm wondering if a combination of the two offers a better balance. Would an all tube setup colour the sound too much? Would an all solid-state system offer none and be too matter of fact?
If I incorporate a tube component, at what stage of the chain will I notice a bigger impact? Since I'm a vinyl spinner primarily I would think it to be a phonostage as its closer to the source (TT), or does the impact of it now having to travel through a preamp/amp/integrated offset it? If so I suppose I would be better off with a tube amp/pre/IA and a solid stage phonostage or perhaps a tubebuffer of some sort.. What are your experiences with regard to this?
If I incorporate a tube component, at what stage of the chain will I notice a bigger impact? Since I'm a vinyl spinner primarily I would think it to be a phonostage as its closer to the source (TT), or does the impact of it now having to travel through a preamp/amp/integrated offset it? If so I suppose I would be better off with a tube amp/pre/IA and a solid stage phonostage or perhaps a tubebuffer of some sort.. What are your experiences with regard to this?