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Adding tubes to SS system-Tube Preamp Amp or Int?

After reading up on tube gear, I am intrigued to try out tubes for the first time in my 2-channel system. As of right now, it is all solid state - I recently got hold of a Parasound JC2 preamp and A21 amp.

I'd like to incorporate something 'tubey' in there just to see for myself what the sound will be like. I am totally new to this, so I dont know where to begin. But I know that I only want to buy a single component for now, so...

Do you folks have an opinion on whether it would be 'better' in any way to use a tube preamp connected to the Parasound A21 amp vs a tube amp connected to the Parasound JC2 preamp? For those of you that love tubes, which method do you think would give you more of the 'tube sound'?

Another consideration - my JC2 is setup with an HT bypass, but since I am not using HT in this system yet, I am thinking it might be a neat option to find a tube preamp, send it through the JC2 bypass directly into the A21 amp. That way, there will be no needed movement of cables (connecting/disconnecting) in order to utilize both the solid state and tube components.

If those are both just bad or suboptimal choices, maybe I'll just look for an integrated tube amp? But again, I want to leave it at one component for now. Just want to start limiting my choices to one of the 3.
nnck

Showing 1 response by elizabeth

elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I have to disagree with Michael about a newbie starting off with a tube amp
(The exception is if a GOOD dealer is locally available to work with a new to tubes customer)
A tube amp is just a big deal. True it is the best to 'really' get tube sound, but it is a lot of 'tubeyness' for a new to tubes person to start with.
On the other hand the OP has a great SS preamp already.
The OP idea of using both a tube and the Parasound JC2 is decent.
I have several preamps and the main Bryston BP-26 has both an Audio Research SP-15 I use only for it'e tubed phono section (going into the Bryston) and also a VAC Standard (4 tubes) preamp I use as a 'tube buffer' from my DAC to the Bryston BP-26 via the VAC Standard.
I like the result very much, and get to keep three great preamps around in use.
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