Just a quick point. There are many people on this thread that are describing the sound of various tubed preamps.
Big mistake. I recognize many of the posters and understand
they are not inexperienced or shy about spending big bucks to improve the sound of their systems. A good tubed products (competently designed using good components) sound will be determined by the tubes selcted. In other words, the Wyetech poster described as the most SS sounding tubed preamp he has heard, is what he heard with a certain tubeset. I guarantee you there is a tubeset for that preamp that will move the sound to the lushest tubiest sounding preamp you have heard. I know you all understand that EVERYTHING in the signal path is crucial to the out come at the speakers. This is why so many pissing contests start on these threads. Maybe it was the cabling that caused the preamp to sound so SS. The tubeset did have a huge influence on the outcome. I recently purchased a Chinese preamp (Ming DA 2A3) for about $1200 including shipping. I replaced all the stock tubes at a cost greater than the cost of the preamp. I will place this preamp in a head to head with anything out there. It will not be imbarassed. Any of the sonic characteristics posters here have ascribed to the different preamps mentioned can all be turned 180 degrees with tube selection and or cable selection. The only necessary parameter for a good tubed product is transparency. It is an empty glass and the sound will depend on the quality of the wine added (tube selection).
If you are into tubed products and haven't done extensive tube rolling, you should stick to SS because you aren't maximizing your gears potential. I would be surprised if the Shindo pre couldn't be improved upon with tube rolling.
The outcome at the speakers in five different systems will
be very different. Therefore there is potential to improve by rolling the tubes to suit your system and personal taste. Tubes are hands on gear, if you are not comfortable with that, then stick with solid state.
Bart
