2. amps-preamps
  3. 1362541729

What is a better route, tube or SS preamp?

Hi everyone! I recently unloaded all of my home theatre gear, and am concentrating on a 2 channel stereo system. So far I have a shanling cd-80, a naim 150 amp, Martin logan aerius loudspeakers, and a carver ct-17 preamp. I'm looking to replace the preamp, however, I'm not sure wether I should go solid state or tube. I know I need to demo some of both, but I wanted some opinions or if anyone has prior experience in this matter. Right now my amp is a SS and my cd has tube output. Everything sounds pretty good, but I want it to sound great!
Also, I will mostly be listening to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal, but also a lot of classic rock as well..
Lastly, I am aware of the amp input impedance and preamp output impedance ratio for both tube and SS. Is there anything else I should consider when pairing an amp and preamp?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
bstevens
mapman's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mapman
15,679 posts
 
"The drawback to tube pre's is that if/when a tube goes a pair of expensive speakers is probaly going with it."

I have not found that to be the case so far (knock on wood) with my ARC sp16, but that is certainly something worth considering with any tube gear. It may sound lovely, but how well protected are you when a tube inevitably fails? Definitely worth knowing an answer, if you can determine it in advance somehow.
aprica88
92 posts
 
After using vacuum tube amp. I decided to sell my ss amp.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,483 posts
 
I like tube pre to solid state amps myself!mrmitch and wolf_grcia,I was a musician myself,yes,one of those club touring hair metal bands!,as the singer,I suppose I know what live music sounds like!cheers!
schubert
4,867 posts
 
Only if you sang without a mike and the band used no amplification.
mrmitch
359 posts
 
And here you guys thought all that hair was to look cool. It was to insulate their ears against Marshall amps on a volume of 11.
More to discover