Finding balance!
- Thread starter Johnny Vinyl
- Start date
Problem is I'm not in a position right now to jump on anything. I'm also keeping my eye open for a Pioneer SPEC-4....so many choices, so many decisions! Damn!
If/when I'm in a position to part with it, you'll be the first to know!
Another alternative, if you want to go the IA route, is PrimaLuna. The DiaLogue One or Two should be within your budget (just).
And we finally have a dealer here in Toronto, so that is another to check out.
i think its common to go tube/pre, ss amp. however, it really probably makes more sense to go the other way due to impedance issues.
i think ultimately people go tube preamp because there are few tubes (and don't have to be replaced often)---but since preamps have gotten more SS over time, i think if you want tube sound you need to go tube amp. tube preamps just don't layer like tube amps and tubophiles understand what i'm talking about.
just my 2 cents
i think ultimately people go tube preamp because there are few tubes (and don't have to be replaced often)---but since preamps have gotten more SS over time, i think if you want tube sound you need to go tube amp. tube preamps just don't layer like tube amps and tubophiles understand what i'm talking about.
just my 2 cents
Thanks Keith! I will gladly take your 2 cents for consideration, because tubes are all new to me. Sure I've heard them in various systems, and I like what I hear, but I'm also somewhat afraid coming from an SS system. I keep hearing about all-tubes coloring the sound, and while I like things on the warm side (who doesn't), I don't want to lose detail either. Am I misguided to think that tubes equal loss of detail?
Hi John,
I think I have finally found the right balance in my system. I use a tube preamp,tube dac and a SS amplifiers driving my 96db efficient speakers. I have a big room but I sit about 13 feet away from them. I like the transparency of tubes with the power of the SS amps. I could go back to tube amplifiers but they are high maintenance. I can deal with tube preamps because I have yet to hear a SS preamp having the presence of the tubed version. FWIW and YMMV
I think I have finally found the right balance in my system. I use a tube preamp,tube dac and a SS amplifiers driving my 96db efficient speakers. I have a big room but I sit about 13 feet away from them. I like the transparency of tubes with the power of the SS amps. I could go back to tube amplifiers but they are high maintenance. I can deal with tube preamps because I have yet to hear a SS preamp having the presence of the tubed version. FWIW and YMMV
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
There is no doubt tube amps can be high maintenance however some more than others and still others that are very little or none at all and YMMV
I agree and I should have made the distinction,since I was talking about my VAC 70 and 140's. Someday I hope Western Electric will build 300B's again.
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I go very easy on my tubes. I always make certain the plate voltage is set to Vlad's standard. Always adhere to the rule, "last on, first off" and you'll do OK. Never get so carried away with tube rolling that you lose sight (or sound)of what tubes were initially used from the mfr.
Orb has made an excellent point with respect to changing impedance with tube rolling
Once you have the sound you love, "set it and forget it"
Those are my simple rules and touch wood I've not had any problems
Orb has made an excellent point with respect to changing impedance with tube rolling
Once you have the sound you love, "set it and forget it"
Those are my simple rules and touch wood I've not had any problems
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
For me the challenge was always to get that bottom octave to sound (and feel) when I had 3 Krell 750 Mcx (driving my mains and my Wilson XS). There is bass with tube amps but never close to that from SS. For me I have supplemented with a pair of Gotham subs
Right now I'm set it and forget it John
Right now I'm set it and forget it John
Roger - Smokes! That is pretty much my exact setup...tube DAC, tube pre and SS Class A amp driving 95db efficient speakers. I am also about 12-13 feet away. Though I have been having problems with my amp lately,...fingers crossed i am about to fix that...in which case i expect to be back to set it and forget it and listening to music.
John -
As for tube pre/SS amp, my own experience was simple. I love the music i get from tubes...i used to be all-tubes. Though over time i have gravitated towards thythmic drive, detail, extension and linearity, i have moved "up the chain" in the tube world only to ensure that i maintained that tube voicing...to my ears, then, i have found the tube golden glow/haze is now gone, and in its place remains a natural, pure tonality. once i got the tonality/detail/linearity right from my front end (ie, the music)...i realized more and more that all i wanted the amp to do...was literally amplify the signal...with as little editorializing as possible...and to do so effortlessly, and with limitless dynamics, at whichever volume (very soft or very loud) i wished. Hence, (personally), why i have chosen SS Class A amplification. Note, while i do listen to chamber, jazz, blues...i also listen to a lot of deep house, synthesized tracks, hip hop and orchestral/large-scale choral (sometimes with organ)...so i do very much value deep, rolling, shuddering bass even at soft volumes. This is thus generally the domain of SS, particularly on high-volume synthesized tracks and deep house. (though i am less critical during movies, i also use this system for action movies and have a sub at 32hz and below which runs in parallel...both on music...and with a separate setting for movies.)
one man's experience.
Eerie. That's practically my set up as well.
Like Audioguy I was thinking Prima Luna as well. The Manley Stingray was a little integrated that I enjoyed a lot, it did rock very well IMO. These should go for very little on the second hand market.
John's Totems are a friendly set of speakers to drive and like he said, his room isn't large. I can't help wondering how some vintage integrateds like Fishers, Scotts or Eicos might do in his system. I think they would be cool as heck.
Like Audioguy I was thinking Prima Luna as well. The Manley Stingray was a little integrated that I enjoyed a lot, it did rock very well IMO. These should go for very little on the second hand market.
John's Totems are a friendly set of speakers to drive and like he said, his room isn't large. I can't help wondering how some vintage integrateds like Fishers, Scotts or Eicos might do in his system. I think they would be cool as heck.
Hi John72953,
Regarding your original post, I would not bother with getting a balance between tube sound and solid state sound but would rather acquire components that will give me the sound that I like, regardless of technology.
My gut feel is that the earlier you have a tube component in the system, the earlier you should realize the flavor of tubes' sonics. If my gut feel is correct, then you should get a tube phono stage if you want to experience tube flavored sonics.
Perhaps instead of acquiring more electronics, you could also consider acquiring a second cartridge to change sonic flavors anytime you wish.
Regarding your original post, I would not bother with getting a balance between tube sound and solid state sound but would rather acquire components that will give me the sound that I like, regardless of technology.
My gut feel is that the earlier you have a tube component in the system, the earlier you should realize the flavor of tubes' sonics. If my gut feel is correct, then you should get a tube phono stage if you want to experience tube flavored sonics.
Perhaps instead of acquiring more electronics, you could also consider acquiring a second cartridge to change sonic flavors anytime you wish.
Or put a really good EQ in the signal chain and color to your heart's desire, with the ability to bipass with the push of a button.
Tim
Tim
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