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Tube vs. SS Dilemma

Hi there Audiogon Community
Need some serious help and don’t know who to talk to but you guys. I have been upgrading my system for the past year and a half now, selling and buying stuff. First I went the tube route, bought an Atlas Magnum Amp, Cary SLP 03 Tube Preamp, was dreaming the liquidy tube dream, was amazed at the upgrade from an old and tired hybrid amp I had. Sources: estoteric DV50 for cd and vinyl via a Lenco TT and Ear Phono. Mainly listen to jazz, classic rock and some bits of classical.
But got a hold of a Mark Levinson Preamp, a 380 model and had a spare Krell 250a amp, hook the esoteric cd player to this second setup and was just blown away, I always thought that my heart would always be glowing with tubes or at least a tube/ss setup, but man am I enjoying the SS turn, the bass carácter of the Krell is addictive.
So my question is: What is happening? Am I just shocked “temporarily” by the ML/Krell combo? Should I just wait for a while and do a second and third shootout between setups? Or the fact that the ML/Krell combo is much better – in terms of the models I have vs. the tube models – part of the reasons that explain the differences and should look for better tube amp/preamp before seriously comparing the two?
As soon as I listened to the ML/Krell combo, my first thought was to keep upgrading my system the ss way, instead of the tube route, but before I make drastic changes want to hear from you guys’ experience. I don’t want to make this a tube vs. ss question, therefore I hope the details of the inquiry help steer away broad answers in that regard.
Should add the speakers I’m using with all these setups: GoldenEar triton 2’s. Thanks in advance. I always enjoy reading the forum, but now I had to ask the question before declaring this a case of mild audiophile schizophrenia.
Thanks.
128x128musicgeorge11
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Hi Larryi,
As you pointed out,there`s such a wide range of sound quality in tube components,you can love one and totally dislike another(same for SS gear as well). You read the forums and for some people there`s much angst and frustration with choosing and building an audio system(little apparent joy). It should be fun and pleasurable. Musicgeorge11 has the happy aspect covered already so IMO just enjoy what you`ve found and avoid the obsessive behavior that`s often found in this hobby.
Charles,
french_fries
735 posts
 
Stick with the speakers you like (especially for your room) and decide what amp
complements their character. If you go to the YOUTUBE GREEK AUDIOPHILE SOCIETY video there is a guy who has been through over a dozen amps (mostly tubes) which i think is hilarious, but the point being that if you can nail those two pieces down, it will help you find the right preamp. then you have to determine if you want to be thrifty on the source component or not.
If you should someday become bored with rock and pop, it will/might push you in a very different direction than liking everything (which is fine, too).
Some rock is horribly recorded (like the freaking Beatles!) but i put on a Fleetwood Mac album the other day and "surprise" it was excellent. gee, i now wonder how the FM/Peter Greene albums sound...?
this hobby is a real "pain" (sometimes)...
musicgeorge11's avatar
musicgeorge11 OP
15 posts
 
Many thanks guys, I really appreciate this, and I acknowledge the fact that this state of affairs is not definite, as french fries says, maybe someday not only my equipment will change, but my musical tastes also.
Larryi raises a really good point I ignored, the character of the ML 380 amp., it tends to be more smooth and in a sense tube-like, maybe this aspect triggered the whole thing, the ML 380 stands in a reasonable middle place between my beloved tube gear and the now amazing SS setup I'm enjoying. In my last SS setup a nice Exposure 3010S2 Preamp was doing a good job, but, as mentioned before, the ML put things in a different perspective.
So for now I will enthusiastically grasp the SS horn of the dilemma and continue to explore.
But if possible would like to hear more from other members.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Musicgeorge11, it may be that your speakers were not particularly tube-friendly. If so you will not get your tube investment dollar out of the amps. You didn't mention your speakers in your post, so this is mere speculation. What kind are they?
musicgeorge11's avatar
musicgeorge11 OP
15 posts
 
Thanks Atmasphere!
Speakers are GoldenEar Triton 2's and I did and a/b/c/d comparison, i.e., played with different combos with another set of Paradigm Studio 60. But with the GoldenEar's the tube setup was not as detailed and clean - I need a better word here - when I turned the volumen up at some difficult parts of the same recording. What I mean by difficult is a section of the recording that had many things playing at once: brass section, acoustic bass, drums, female voice, etc. a grand finale of sorts. The ML/Krell was asking for more volumen in these parts, the tube setup was asking a way out. Don't know if I'm explaining myself.
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