2. amps-preamps
  3. 1246552087

SS Preamp with Tube Amp?

I have always been a SS audiophile: Plinius, McCormack, Pass amps and integrated's. I still have a few of them in several setups.

But recently I bought a Music Reference RM10 MKII, an EL84 35 wpc tube amp. I love it. Have it driving Spendor A6's. All cables Furutech.

My question is, can a SS preamp do the tube amp justice to maintain the tube amp's liquidity, sweetness, wonderful midrange, etc.

I was thinking about a Jeff Rowland Capri SS pre.

Wondered what others' experience has been with this question.

Thanks
Glenn
gsherwood53
clio09
2,978 posts
 
My Capri with VAC Auricle Musicblocs is a nice combination. Prior to getting the VAC amps the RM-10 was on my short list to use with the Capri.

FWIW I also like, and to a degree prefer, a passive preamp in front of tube amps. I'm using a couple different ones in my system right now. The Lightspeed attenuator and the Slagleman Autoformer Volume Control.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
No, you miss the point of tubes. Best way to tell is get a dealer to loan you a tube pre, any make, and give it a try.
missioncoonery
732 posts
 
Nsgarch IMO your wrong..Ive never know anyone that thinks "85% or more" of the system is the amp/speaker and the remaining 15% or less is the source/ pre-amp/cable/room treatment/power,thats just silly..My tube pre is the heart of my system..
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I ran a Klyne 6LX3p pre amp with vtl 225's,manley ref 440/200 and cary slam 100's with excellant results;unless there is a gross mismatch of preamp to amp mating I don't see why your plan would not work;also Buconero117 idea of a loaner from a dealer is not a bad idea.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
I believe that Glenn is especially interested in real experiences -- positive or negative as they may be -- that match a Capri pre with tube amps, and with his tube amp in particular.

Unfortunately I have not tried Capri on a tube amp myself, but only on JRDG 7M and JRDG 312, so my comments are partially non helpful.

Sonically, if we make a scale from 0 to 100 for the extreme harsh solid-statish versus clawingly warm tubish sound, the Capri seems to me to fall on the very slightly warm side of neutral at about 53 or 54.

From a compatibility point of view, the Capri presents an output impedance of 40 Ohms single ended and 80 Ohms balanced. This should, at least in principle, make it compatible with most any amps, including most tube devices.

As its gain has a resolution of 0.5dB, there should be no issue ina very gradual volume increase in most situations.

In the end though, there may be no substitution for trhying things out by oneself. . . My experience is that one audiophile's poison tends to be an other one's ambrosia, and viceversa.

G.
More to discover