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Tube/SS synergy?

I have a new system: Cary 306/200 cdp and Audio Research LS15 pre-amp. BWN802 speakers. Overall good quality, a nice improvement in bass response, sound staging. Can't help wondering how substituting an Audio Research CDP or something else would effect sound. My old system was matching Classe gear and the synergy was quite remarkable. any one care to share their thoughts/experience?
joeb
Post removed 
unsound
6,115 posts
 
If you really want to stick with a tube pre, you may still be able to do so, though the options are limited. The better Sonic Frontier pre's are DC coupled low output impedance and I beleive the Atma-Sphere pre's might work too. There may be others. I have no personal experience with the Atma-Sphere, as interesting as they are, they're beyond my budget. I should warn you, that to some the Sonic Frontiers are not as tubey as most other tube pre's, still one of my favorites. Bob, offers a really good recommendation. The Pass pre's are IMHO excellent.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I use an Atma-Sphere MP1 preamp with solid state Belles 150A Reference amplifiers, which I run balanced. As Unsound guessed, the combination works very well. Likely, the MP1 would also work well with Pass amps.

The Atma preamp is not tubey (bloated midbass, rolled off highs, loose bass). It's very crisp and open sounding.
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