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Using digital preamp to tube power amp questions

A while ago I was looking into trying tube amplification in my system and received a lot of good advice here. However, at the time I was using Martin Logan electrostatics and just couldn't get comfortable with issues related mostly to the inordinately high current requirements of these speakers. Recently, though, I bought a pair of Serie Reference 3A monitors which I seriously like and decided to pursue the idea again.

The reason for this post is to seek advice regarding the use of a digital preamp (Peachtree Nova) with a tube based amplifier because of the latitude I have with its large number of digital and analog source inputs. If the benefits of using tubes come primarily from the use of the preamp, I'll not pursue this issue. However, if those of you having experience with a similar setup have had good success I'd appreciate hearing from you. My current setup is this: Shanling CD-S100 CD player - Peachtree Nova as preamp - Behringer UltraCurve DEQ 2496 equalizer- Peachtree 220 amp - Martin Logan Ethos or the Reference 3 A's, depending on which speakers I decide to keep.
128x128broadstone
mechans
2,999 posts
 
So did you try it? Or are you just asking hypothetical questions regarding the possibility of such a set up? I strongly recommend you try it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Theoretical audio is never a great substitute for the actual audio, except to rule out dangerous set ups.
What are your current concerns?
I would not use my rarest or irreplaceable tubes. Watch for specific danger messages from the manufacturer and don't doubt their sincerity. Do not attempt while inebriated, or otherwise not in full charge of your faculties! Relax!
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
277 posts
 
Mechans, the Cary amp that I want to try hasn't yet become available so I haven't had a chance to try it. The request for advice, though, wasn't meant to solicit "what if" hypotheses; I seriously wanted to know if I might expect to hear a tube influenced improvement based on introduction of only this power amp. I've had almost no experience with tube based components except for when, going back to the late 50's, monaural and tube amps were the only choice. Also, over 30 years ago I discovered electrostatic speakers and have stayed with them ever since and, based on their inordinate current demands and advice I was given, I decided it best to stay solid state.

Now that I have these really nice monitors I thought it was time to see what I may have been missing all these years. Also, with age, my hearing is changing to the extent that I'm finding more and more music passages that I used to seriously enjoy have started sounding somewhat harsh to the point of discomfort. Now I don't expect tubes to be the panacea for these listening woes but if some of the edges can be rounded a bit and if tubes can contribute to this, the improvement would be welcomed.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Tubes can definitely help with that...

Since you are not changing the speakers, my recommendation is to stay away from SETs, since they simply don't make enough power. You will want 30-50 usable watts; in an SET that means about 150 watts total! Not going to happen (unless you are in a small room, in which case a 20 or 30-watt SET might do).

We make amps that would work with that, and there are many others out there that will do nicely too.
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