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Solid state with tube pre amp?

I've been running tube amps with SS preamps for a long time. I discovered the combo by accident several years ago, when I needed to throw together a setup to demonstrate some gear at a local audio gathering. Looking through spare gear, I grabbed a Dynaco ST-70 and a Superphon Revelation preamp, and used them for the demo. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they worked together, so I started using the pair in my office setup, and I continue to do so. :thumbsup:
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Add me to the list of tube preamp and ss power amp group. I'm currently running a Modwright LS100 into my Odyssey Kismet monoblocks. My speakers need the grunt but the tubes add the sweetness.

Personally I think preamps have the biggest impact on a system 2nd only to speakers.

Dan Wright of Modwright agrees since all of his preamp offerings are tubed, and all his {current} power amps are solid state.

- Woody
 
I've done both ss and tubes combo for pre-amp and power amp and vice versa. I think a tube power amp gives you more a flavor of tubes then vice versa. but a tube pre-amp gives you a little more realism. Anyway. I've got my sights set on another tube amp to go with my tube pre-amp. because honestly. tubes are just awesome. I miss my tube amp and have regretted selling it. especially on an all analog rig when the source has never met a digit in it's life. there's magic in tubes. straight up Gandalf.
 
matteos said:
I've done both ss and tubes combo for pre-amp and power amp and vice versa. I think a tube power amp gives you more a flavor of tubes then vice versa. but a tube pre-amp gives you a little more realism. Anyway. I've got my sights set on another tube amp to go with my tube pre-amp. because honestly. tubes are just awesome. I miss my tube amp and have regretted selling it. especially on an all analog rig when the source has never met a digit in it's life. there's magic in tubes. straight up Gandalf.
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Perhaps you're right. But when you have 86db/1w/1m speakers at 4ohms nom. Finding good tube power amps for a reasonable price is tough. Especially good ones. Cheaper SS is easier to do better than cheap tubes.

I think good, clean, neutral, transparent SS power amps are pretty easy to come by. Then they let the choice of preamp and sources flow through.

- Woody
 
Its all about the parameters of the units. Tubes normally require a high load impedance, where most SS amps have a medium to low input impedance. That combination doesn't work so well. But if the amp section has at least 10 times the impedance of the pre-amp you should be OK.
 
I have both combos. I think I prefer my tube pre/SS amp combo. But have to admit it depends on the day. See sig for combos.
 
when i put the ARC SP3a1 in place of my former pre (ss-ADCOM GFP565), my jaw bruised my toes. i can't go back to ss for a preamp. the SS amp i use is the ADCOM GFA555II which was purchased with the gfp565 and i was happy for a while but something subtle was subconsciously tugging at me but not enough to spur action.

THEN the SP3a1 came to me and that was SO convincing in every way that i can never go back. i am surprised that joeSP9 hasn't chimed in.
 
Give it a try. You'll probably like it. Currently running the reverse, solid state Emotiva PT 100 -> Dynaco ST70. I'll say it sounds pretty pretty good.
 
To add a coin to the collection tray,

I am biased in that I am unbiased; have designed both topologies. The "sound" of any amplifier depends on the design. As said, it might be easier to pair an s.s preamp with a tube main rather than the other way round. Transistors make for less background noise, so particularly in phono preamps my preference is s.s though I come from the tube era and have built many tube preamps.

I am not particularly familiar with commercial stuff but will respectfully say that the "sound" of many tube amplifiers (particularly where unacceptable) comes from design shortcomings rather than inherent tube characteristics. Corners are cut in both instances. Where there is a definite preference for a tube pre feeding an s.s main, it is dead easy for a competent technician to install a 'buffer' in the pre to 'convert' to low output impedance capable of feeding any s.s. main amplifier.
 
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