Substituting solid state preamp for a Heathkit WA-P2?

[Koloderko]

Hi!
Excuse my ignorance, but can I use SS preamps with tube power amps such as the various Heathkit models? I see those amps pop up every now and then at attractive prices and I'd like to dip my toes into the tube world but am not sure if I have to get a tube pre for them as well?

 

[Ohighway]

You can use a solid state preamp with tube power amps or vise versa. It works fine.

 

[zackthedog]

Hi!
Excuse my ignorance, but can I use SS preamps with tube power amps such as the various Heathkit models? I see those amps pop up every now and then at attractive prices and I'd like to dip my toes into the tube world but am not sure if I have to get a tube pre for them as well?

As Ohighway says, yes that works fine. The only caution is that some vintage tube *preamps* have a high output impedance and maybe not deliver enough bass to a low-impedance SS amplifer, but in your case that is not a problem.

 

[zackthedog]

Also, some vintage tube preamps were the weak link in the set, so using a modern preamp can be a good thing.

 

[Koloderko]

You can use a solid state preamp with tube power amps or vise versa. It works fine.

All right! Thanks!

 

[Koloderko]

As Ohighway says, yes that works fine. The only caution is that some vintage tube *preamps* have a high output impedance and maybe not deliver enough bass to a low-impedance SS amplifer, but in your case that is not a problem.

I was just wondering about that... going the other way... Are there any particular ones to watch out for here?

 

[zackthedog]

I was just wondering about that... going the other way... Are there any particular ones to watch out for here?

Well, I don't want to generalize too much, but many of the early 50's preamps designed to mate with Heathkits or Dynacos have a rather highish output impedance. The associated amps, like the ones you're interested in, had an input impedance of 500K to 1 megaohm. Most modern amps, tube or SS, tend to have a 100K ohm input impedance.

 

[Koloderko]

Well, I don't want to generalize too much, but many of the early 50's preamps designed to mate with Heathkits or Dynacos have a rather highish output impedance. The associated amps, like the ones you're interested in, had an input impedance of 500K to 1 megaohm. Most modern amps, tube or SS, tend to have a 100K ohm input impedance.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!