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What is a better route, tube or SS preamp?

Hi everyone! I recently unloaded all of my home theatre gear, and am concentrating on a 2 channel stereo system. So far I have a shanling cd-80, a naim 150 amp, Martin logan aerius loudspeakers, and a carver ct-17 preamp. I'm looking to replace the preamp, however, I'm not sure wether I should go solid state or tube. I know I need to demo some of both, but I wanted some opinions or if anyone has prior experience in this matter. Right now my amp is a SS and my cd has tube output. Everything sounds pretty good, but I want it to sound great!
Also, I will mostly be listening to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal, but also a lot of classic rock as well..
Lastly, I am aware of the amp input impedance and preamp output impedance ratio for both tube and SS. Is there anything else I should consider when pairing an amp and preamp?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
bstevens
mrmitch
359 posts
 
Wolf's hearing is probably more acute in the higher registers because.......DUH............he's a wolf. Lol! I myself have had great success with a tubed preamp and tube phono preamp going to a solid state amplifier, but your mileage may vary. I don't claim to have golden ears but I am a guitar, bass, and keyboard player going back to when I was 7 years old (62 now), so I'm familiar with how music ought to sound live. Each of us hears differently due to age and health,our rooms and ancillary equipment are different, so you have to find what works for you, for YOUR ears. The tube pres and soild state amp gives me the combination of ambiance retrieval and trueness of timbre while also providing a deep, solid bass foundation to the types of music I enjoy (everything but country and hip-hop).
mrmitch
359 posts
 
And before I get pounced on, yes, I do realize no stereo gives you the sound of music live. It's a comparison point to start from.
isochronism
1,447 posts
 
I happen to like tubes all around. "tubes amps and their owners are more fun" (Wolf) My amps and I together are a real humorous riot!
mrmitch
359 posts
 
So since I have a tube preamp and tube phono preamp and a solid state amplifier, I must now settle for being only 2/3 the fun that Wolf and Iso are. Bummer!
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
I'm not sure my SS pre to tube amp sounds better or worse than any other well assembled gear pile, but I've been having so much fun with my rig I don't care. I'd love to get a tube preamp eventually but the ones I like (with balanced outs and ins) are in the 5 grand area (that Cary SLP O5 just seems friggin' BAD) so for now I'm fine with my trusty super clean Kavent S33. If my high frequency hearing ability has diminished (playing in loud bands for decades and being a "geezer newbie"...hmmm) I refuse to admit it as the people who hire me for live sound mixing may find it off-putting. Interestingly (to me anyway) many mastering techs, respected studio producers/engineers, speaker designers, and other sound pros are in my age group and doin' JUST FINE...whew...
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