Tube or Solid State Pre Amp - which did you choose

[MC352]

I am curious to see how many folks picked one over the other.

I had SS and went to Tube.

My tube preamp drives a solid state power amp, most of the time. Other times I connect it to my tube power amp.

 

[Ron Party]

Chuck, it sounds like you're having lotsa fun. Way to go!

 

[Steve Williams]

If it were me and you wanted best tube sound with best power I say go tube preamp and SS amp. I did it for quite a while and it was very good

 

[naturephoto1]

My first true high end system used my Accuphase E-202 Integrated SS amp. Later, when I went to true separates I went to an Acurus A-250 SS Amp and a Carver C19 Hybrid Preamp. Once the Carver failed I went to a Krell KAV-250a/3 SS amp which was added to the Acurus Amp. At that point I added the Proeceed AVP SS Pre/Pro. I then added Aragon Palladium 1K SS amps (and then 2 more) along with my Onkyo 885 SS Pre/Pro. To that system I added the Audio Research LS10 SS Line Stage Preamp.

Rich

 

[RUR]

I had SS and went to Tube.

I had tube and went to SS. The cosmic audio forces are, once again, balanced. ;-)

 

[DWR]

C J PV 14L here

 

[Jay_S]

One of my preamps is a hybrid. Should I vote twice?

 

[muralman1]

I will stick to the Fire, a solid state preamp.

 

[MC352]

I didn't think of that option for the poll. sorry bout that.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Should also had hybrid

My first "high-end" preamp was a Hafler DH101 that I had modified by Van Alastine. At the same time, however, I had an interest in hearing a tube preamp and had been after a close friend to drag his POOGED Dynaco PAS 3 over (with separate outboard power supply-my friend never did anything half ass ) over to my home. One day he calls me and says if I pick him up, he'll bring it over. Faster than you can say ah one and u two, was in the car, picked him up and plugged the unit in. The long and short of the story was that I was blown away by the Dynaco. More music than I ever heard before coming through my DQ10s. Less harshness, etc., etc. Next day, sold my Hafler to Stereo Exchange and used the credit to pick up a used cj PV5. Never looked back since though obviously have over the years had many ss, tube and hybrid units in the house.

 

[The Smokester]

If it were me and you wanted best tube sound with best power I say go tube preamp and SS amp. I did it for quite a while and it was very good

I have tried this. My system is now all tubes.

 

[soundofvoid]

From the excellent SS DENON PRA S-10, to the Golden Tube SEP-2,then SEP-3,then Sonic frontiers LINE-2,then LINE-2 SE,then LINE-2 SE++.I 'll never go back!

 

[DaveyF]

H-K A 500 Tube amp..modded for preamp output only, a Counterpoint SA3 and now a CAT SL1 Sig with rolled in tubes. IMHO, tubes are the ONLY way to go in the preamp section.

 

[vinylphilemag]

I voted Tube, although my SP-9 Mk 2 is technically a hybrid. (That said, the Allnic H-3000 and L-3000 I'm currently using are tubed all the way!)

 

[JackD201]

Hybrid here

 

[RogerD]

I have always used a SS preamp,a Accuphase C200. Although I find my Ampex 350's produce a more realistic and natural rendition of a recording. I currently am replacing the signal caps in the Ampex with film caps,so we will see if things improve. The tape monitor allows me to use the Ampex as a preamp and the Accuphase as far as I can tell is close to straight through.

 

[brianherlihy]

I am SS pre and amp - tube phono pre-

 

[JoeESP9]

Got an ARC SP-9 Mk3. Wanted to vote hybrid. Couldn't so voted tube. Tubes drive my ESL's and SS drives my subs.

Rich, that was me with the heads up about JGH. Like your mag.

 

[Gregadd]

Technically the ARC SP-9 is SS. It has only one tube in the phono stage. Tubes are preferred for small signal amplification.

 

[mep]

Not true. The SP-9 has two tubes, one in the phono section and one in the line section. It is a hybrid though. Maybe you were thinking of the SP-14 which only has one tube in the phono section. I owned the SP-14 and didn't like it.