Tube Pre-Amp, vs Solid State with Tone Controls/EQ to take edge off the top end?

Personally I like the synergy between a tube pre and a SS amp. I have a CJ pre with Threshold amps. My speakers are Infinity RS-1s which I've "heard" have a hot top end. Never noticed this myself.

I use a Mac tube pre with tone controls with a Mac solid state amp = Heaven. When I used to sell Infinity back in the late 70’s, the hotter sounding EMIM midrange and EMIT tweeter could take your ears off.

I have always used a tube pre with solid state amplification. I think it’s the best of both.

To mitigate edgy HF due to room issues - as opposed to electronics:
- Try toe-ing the speakers out a few degrees.
- Try hanging a somewhat dense fabric on the wall - dead center behind the speakers. Experiment with a bath towel at first. If it works, buy a professional acoustic panel.

@stereo5 The idea of a tube pre-amp with a solid state amp does make a lot of logical sense to me. Could be the direction I head.

I’m pretty close to what I want, so obviously always that fear of selling off the pass and regretting it. But, what you are doing makes a lot of sense. I do like deep, tight, punchy bass so giving up a solid state power amp worries me a bit.

That said, a few years back I tried a McIntosh amp with some JBL speakers (it was either a 302 or 352), I ended up taking it back as I was unimpressed with the bass response.  I was super bummed as I've always wanted to own Mcintosh.  Another brand I want to try is Balanced Audio Technology.  But, I do really like this 250.8 in particular.  Wondering if something like an ARC pre-amp would pair nicely?


@steakster, I’m fortunate in that my room is fully treated. But agree it makes a huge difference. I was playing around with bass traps today and had pulled them from the front of my room and just ran the rear ones. Ended up putting them back.