Phono/preamp/amp chain. One of them tube the others SS. Which one?

I would have a solid state phono stage, tubed preamp and solid state amp (with an appropriate input impedance to work with the tubed preamp).  I have the first two in my system now (a Shindo preamp and a prototype of the Merrill Jens phono stage), and they work extremely well together, and I've heard enough really good solid state amps like the Ayre to believe that I could live with a solid state amp in my system (at least with the right speakers).  My rationale on the phono stage is similar to yours, Inna, but I feel that the lower noise floor of the solid state unit works better with a low level signal from the cartridge--I certainly found this to be the case when I replaced my Lamm phono stage with my current one.

Would not want an excessive bloom and certainly would not tolerate decrease in PRAT and dynamics. A little more rounded bass OK. I prefer speakers on a slightly warmer side, somewhat relaxed not uptight. So the idea would be to create a hybrid amplification with more natural presentation.
Tha cartridge..let's think of Lyra or Transfiguration.
Lamm phono is in very high esteem, it would take quite a phono stage to compete and better it.

Not all devices, and not all systems are equal, of course. Some only listen to vinyl "seriously" others like me are all about music that fits on a memory device somewhere.

However, based on past experience, I'd say the preamp should be tube, and I don't know enough about vinyl to say what I'd do with the phono.

The issue that has come up a few times in my life has been tube amps faced with a very difficult load, such as an electrostatic. Swapping out the amp for a solid SS was a fabulous combination. In fact, in the Electrostatics I did hear, a tube preamp was ideal. I helped sell a couple of pairs of speakers that way. :)

Best,


Erik

My vinyl goes to a solid state phono, and from there to a computer interface, and then to the computer.

My "Geek" took care of the computer interface, and the computer card that down loads it into the computer.

A great advantage of doing things this way, is that I only have to handle a record once. After that I can set up a play list for my 2 track Technics reel, and that playback yields an improvement; and at the expense of so much tape, it should.

While people who don't know will tell you that something will be lost with this kind of setup; recently, people who know, confirmed the results I've been getting; all the nuances of vinyl are revealed on playback; what ever your cartridge puts out, that's what you will get.

I have a modified Audible Illusions 3A pre, that feeds into PrimaLuna Mono Blocks. Although the end result of all of this is quite neutral, I get every nuance of the LP. No, I don't use the phono on the Audible Illusions.

This is what I have and I like it, the solid state phono is dead silent, but puts out only what you put in.

Although I've often read about these great tube phonos, like Herron for example, I've never heard one; consequently I don't know what improvement you would get over one which duplicates whatever cartridge you use.



A tube pre, and solid state amp work quite well together, but personally I would not have a solid state pre.




Enjoy the music.