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noob question: mixing tube preamp + ss amp

sheiku

sheiku

Member
Hi to all, and glad i am part of this wonderful forum.
Dan here,

After many year of using only ss amps i want to enter with timidity in the word of tube:

I own only ss amplifiers and very big and inefficient speakers i cannot drive them only with tube amplifiers - as Quadral Vulkan mk2 (8 ohm 150-200W, and maybe 82 sensitivity , but i am in love with them an want to use them) , DUAL CL 190, an other big or inefficient speakers.
Mainly i use an Sansui AU-x701 ss amplifier( with no separate stages pre and amp)
I have also Sansui au 9900 ( with separates imputs as pre and amp) - but this i must to repair because it have some nasty problems

So 3 noob questions i have in order to understand this field and to reach a more/better tube sound:

1) do you recommend a tube buffer or an tube preamp? - i saw many opinions on other forums and i incline to have a tube preamplifier instead of a buffer for a better sound. It is correct?
2) can i use an tube PREamplifier with my sansui au-x 701 ? 701 does not have separates inputs for pre and amp)
in any words, it is possible just to connect:
PC signal >> USB DAC >> tube preamp >> Sansui au x701>> speakers?
Also i use many hours /day radio from my tuner so i suspect that an tube premaplifier with many imputs is required.
3) if the situation from point 2 is ok with PC/tuner > preamp> amp , what will be the active volume and tone knobs? The preamp knobs will be or the ss amplifier knobs will be active?

Thank you all
ps :
Budget will not be high maybe i can afford 500 usd for this aquisition from ebay or other chinese company.
My question came also because i do not have experience and i do not understand how to use an preamp ( tube or ss) with an power amp. I never had an such combo. I just know that the preamp is connected before the amplifier. But there are some conditions?
( sorry for my poor english)
And thank you again
 
Last edited:
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I've used both SS preamps with tube amps and tube preamps with SS amps.
I've always preferred tube preamps connected to SS amplifiers over SS preamps and tube amplifiers. Maybe adding a tube buffer, unless needed, could be just adding more to the signal chain and chance of added noise and distortion?
But in the end its all about what sounds best to you.
 
You're going to be limited to a chinese tube preamp/buffer for sure if your budget is $500 or less - US tube preamps are big money.

With no preamp input on your Sansui 701 you'll have to get some kind of line level preamp or tube buffer. The preamp volume control, and the amp volume will both control the sound level since your preamp is not taking over control of the amp. It would just control the signal going into the amp. Like Lavane said it might not be exactly what you're looking for.

Your plan would most likely work better after you get the au 9900 fixed. Can't imagine it would ever sound better since that's a very high quality amp but you never know until you try.
 
If your Sansui AU X701 does not have an input that goes directly to the power amp section, you'll not be accomplishing what you are wanting to accomplish. Why? You will be sending your tube pre-amp signal through the solid state pre-amp built into the AU-X701 prior to the signal getting to the power amp. The AU-X701 is an integrated amp which means it has a pre-amp and an amp in one box. If you want a tube pre-amp to SS power amp set-up you need either a SS power amp or an integrated amp that has power amp inputs that bypass the internal pre-amp. If your 9900 has that ability - would be best results to use that. So PC >> DAC >> Tube PreAmp >> AU 9900 amplifier direct inputs >> speakers.
 
Shawnnnn said:
You're going to be limited to a chinese tube preamp/buffer for sure if your budget is $500 or less - US tube preamps are big money.
Click to expand...

This is true. Not much other than a good deal on used for that money or some sketchy Chinese stuff. There are good Chinese Tube preamps, but they will cost more. There is the kit option, but your still looking at over a grand for a decent kit. Here is an option that has gotten some decent reviews. Roy over at tubes4hifi is selling them along with his kits. Its Chinese made and very close to your budget.
No affiliation:
http://tubes4hifi.com/SP10.htm
 
If you are up to learning to build your own you will get a lot more quality for your money but you have to have the patience to work safely with really high voltages. You can feed a preamp into an aux input or tape monitor but you will not really be getting the full effect. IMO a buffer is a waste of time and money.
 
I just recently aquired a Dynaco Pas III tube pre. I paired it wih a Crown D150A. Forte II speakers. I got that nice thick midrange warm tube sound fed to one of the original "straight wire with gain" solid state amps. Very happy with the sound.
 
Thank you all,
Mixed experience here. And a lot of information.

I will dig more.
Still i have an unanswered question:
if i use PC >> DAC >> Tube PreAmp >> AU 9900 amplifier direct inputs >> speakers,
what device will have the volume and tone control over the sound? tube preamps knobs or au 9900? sansui have separates sections for preamp and power amp inputs. I really love the knobs on sansui 9900 and i do not want to cancel them.


Thank you
 
Lavane said:
I've used both SS preamps with tube amps and tube preamps with SS amps.
I've always preferred tube preamps connected to SS amplifiers over SS preamps and tube amplifiers. Maybe adding a tube buffer, unless needed, could be just adding more to the signal chain and chance of added noise and distortion?
But in the end its all about what sounds best to you.
Click to expand...

My observations are much the same. I am very happy with my current setup although at first I was a bit concerned on how it would sound. I needn't have worried at all.
 
I run a Frenzel tube pre amp with my Onkyo Integra M-504 and I love it. If you can stretch your budget a little, another $100, you could get a American made pre. Check it out...https://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/product-page/spx72-stereo-hi-fi-preamp
spx72-stereo-hi-fi-preamp
 
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