6 months ago i acquired
two hot rodded ATR-102's; one with stock output, one with tubed MR 70's. comparing the two for a few months, i found that the tubed MR 70 tape preamps took things to another level; not only more space, but lower noise and greater dynamics and bass too. these MR 70's are not stock. matching the MR 70's did involve special Flux Magnetic heads.
anyway i agree that a properly executed and integrated tubed output can take tape to another level.
i have also heard other tubed tape repro's that to my ears were not as musically satisfying as my solid state King Cello was on my Studer A-820's. so it's not that simple as just having tubes, but that maybe the ceiling is higher with tubes.
