1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1228174412

Solid state amp/Tube Preamp. Possible?

Hi everyone. I have a Classe CA300 power amp & I'm thinking of getting a BAT tube preamp w/phone pre. A BAT VK-3i to be exact. My speakers are B&W 802's with a Linn Wakonda Pre at present with a Sota table. The Linn has a on board phone pre but I run my table through a Musical Fidelity X-LPS ver 3 phono pre. I'm thinking of replacing the Linn & X-LPS with the BAT VK-3i. I know BAT's reputation is outstanding just worried about the tube pre matched with a solid state amp. Any ideas or experience with this type of set up would be appreciated.

Cheers Deanna
deanna4242
tvad
9,467 posts
 
12-02-08: Cyclonicman
Matching the impedance as listed in some other posts is usually not a
problem either.

John Atkinson provides reasons in his Stereophile test measurements section for
the potential impedance mismatches. Perhaps I have not presented the reasons
clearly, but the issue exists nonetheless.

Readers should look at Atkinson's measurements sections in Stereophile
reviews for further information. He has tested several BAT preamps.

As I stated earlier, the BAT/Classe match will likely be good based on the
numbers, but to say matching impedance is usually not a problem is simply
incorrect.

Perhaps, I'm misunderstanding Cyclonicman's point.
ait
480 posts
 
I use a Supratek Chenin with a Gilmore Class D amp and the combo sounds sensational. No impedance problems there. The output impedance of the Supratek is ~200ohms, so it matches up well with just about any amp.
missioncoonery
732 posts
 
Ive run tube preamps and solid state amps in different combos for years..Never gave the matching any thought and never had any issues..IMO, the tech info of matching may have its credits but in any system I put together it never was...
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,486 posts
 
.
Tubed preamp and solid state amps make beautiful music for me.
.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I've used an Atma-Spere MP-1 MK III and a Lamm L2 Reference (not fully tubed), and a Lamm LL2 Deluxe with solid state amps with excellent results. All of these preamps have low output impedances (below 200 ohms for the Lamms, and I believe 600 ohms for the Atma-Sphere).

I tried an ARC Ref 3 with solid state amps (Pass Labs) with so-so results.

I'll keep the measurement specs concept in my back pocket for future reference.
More to discover