Solid State or Tube Preamp mated with Tube Monos?


Just wanted your opinions on partnering "tube monoblocks with a solid state preamp" versus "tube monoblocks with a tube preamp." We currently use Wolcott Tube Monoblocks with a beautiful sounding Threshold Stasis R5 preamp; however, I just want to get a sense of the possibilities -- good and bad -- transitioning to a tube preamp mated with the Wolcott monos. Thank you.
somut

Showing 4 responses by somut

Thanks for the response Jaybo. The Threshold output impedance is less than 100 ohms; while the Wolcott input impedance is 250,000 ohms. The specs -- given some say that the input impedance on amp should be at least 10X the pre ouput impedance -- seems to mate pretty well. Moreover, the sound of the pieces together seem to approach perfection to a closer degree than other tube and solid state setups we've had. Thanks for your input.
Pubul57: Going back nearly quarter of a century, I experienced the following evolution in preamps:

1. Superphon Revelation (S.S.);
2. Counterpoint SA-1000 (Hybrid);
3. Counterpoint SA-5000 (Hybrid);
4. Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (Tube);
5. Threshold Fet 10Hl (which we currently use in 2nd system);
5. Threshold Stasis R5 (in our reference system).

I would say the Thresholds and the Counterpoint were the best of the lot to experience.

I've auditioned in-depth to many preamps in and around New England, some of which were the

1. ASR Emitter w/ Battery Supply/ies;
2. McIntosh;
3. ARC Reference;
3. Krell;
4. Atma-Sphere;
5. Audio Note Kondo;
6. Conrad Johnson;
7. Atma-Sphere;
8. Meridian;
9. Cary;
10. Aesthetix;
11. Sim Audio (?);
12. Ayre (?);
13. Spectral;
14. Linn;
15. Mark Levinson;
16. VTL (?);
17. Sim Audio;
18. Jadis (?);
19. Air Tight (?);
20. Classe;
21. Halcro;
22. Boulder 2010.

There are perhaps some others over the years that I can not vividly recall.

Thanks and happy listening!

? = vaguely recall listening.
Thanks for the informative responses gentlemen. It's a privilege to be amongst a community of human beings in touch with not merely cutting-edge audio engineering but more significantly with cutting-edge science.
At this point, I prefer to err on the side of caution and not mess with success, i.e. "Be careful when you are this close."

Like a gentleman advised me about putting on too many layers of spar varnish, "Two or three layers is fine; but, when you start putting on more than that, things are gonna start moving on you (likely for the worse) . . .."