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ss vs. tube, who would of thought?


33klfan

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Let the title speak for itself. Let the battles begin. This is a thread where tube fans and ss fans can battle it out with why u think one or the other is better from experience and for pieces that are not quite as expensive like thousands of dollars. Keep it low, so it can help me economically in the future of buying. Have fun. Thanks.

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Yaaawn. We might as well talk about religion or politics. It would be just as benificial.

I did hear an interesting fact a few months back at a Wireless

communications seminar. Seems that the new Terahertz, or whatever

is past gigahertz, hit the threshhold of the amount of information you

could push through a solid core amplifier. The answer.

Tubes. Yes Tubes are going to be used in the next generation of

state of the art communications.

JM

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Well, this was a stupid idea. I thought this could be a serious topic with showing a little bit more respect towards the 2 channel field. I was just looking for good information on both sides under one post. Maybe some of u guys will understand this. The chicken thing, i surely have no clue what that has to do with this thread but ok.

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It's a good idea if you like flame wars or if you like watching baby

seals getting clubbed. I once made a mistake of starting a thread

asking a question about power cables regarding an experiment I did. The

thread was not beneficial or taken in the spirit I posted. Good

luck.....

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If you do some past searches here you will see how these threads

usually turn stinky very fast and won't be as informative as you would

hope.

Talking Amps here is like talking religion or politics. Some like

there SET, others like there Pentodes, others like there SS and most

here are close minded to any other opionions.

JM

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Thank you mdeneen for replying in a non-circus manner. I do know that i decide on what sounds good and that's how i've been making decisions for my purchases, but the main purpose of this post was to hear people's experience between ss and tube. I know it's my decision in the end but i like to hear what people have to say about two channel systems. It's how i get some ideas and it broadens my understanding of differences that all pieces can bring in two channel. Thanks for understanding. It would be nice to see more people like this on this post. No more stupid circus stuff, please. Go to a circus forum for that.[:#][;)]

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I'll describe the three running systems I have at my house, and why I use them the way they are at the moment.

Living room is a pretty cheap Sony receiver with a CDP, turntable and

my JBL 4311 speakers. I have my vcr hooked up to it, along with my huge

13" tv. We can turn it on and play. No muss and not much fuss. The

speakers are the best part of this system, the Sony works (actually

very quiet and clean).

The bedroom system is set up so my wife and I can listen to music. Her

computer and my computer also reside there. I wasl using a Merlin tube

preamp feeding my rebuilt Dynaco ST-70 driving my Heresy IIs. I am

using a cheap CDP right now. The sound is very nice. However, I swapped

out the Dynaco and put in an Alesis SS power amp. The sound didn't

change much at all, but it also means that my wife doesn't have to

worry about the Dynaco's heat. It can stay on all day, and the Merlin

doesn't get very warm at all. She is comfortable with it.

The Dynaco now drives my Alesis nearfield monitors on my computer, with

a Biamp brand industrial mixer/pre providing buffering and feeding from

the PC. I also have a small Velodyne sub on this (my Brother-in-law)

gave it to me). SOunds pretty decent with the PC as a source, but I

haven't even had it on in over a week as we usually have the other

system on.

For me it is more about the enjoyment than all the specs and details.

They all sound decent, even good, compared to what most of my friends

would have in their homes. So we have balanced convenience and low cost

quality for what we have. The Dynaco I've had since the '70s, the Biamp

we were tossing out at work, the sub was given to me. The Merlin was a

gift, but everything else we bought. It works for me. Would I upgrade a

few things if I had the chance? Sure, but we're happy at the moment.

Bruce

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I'm in the learning stages too regarding all the endless choices of electronics available. Your question sounds good to me because when I start dumping big $$$ into this stuff it would be nice to have even a little information about other peoples systems and why they do or do not like S.S. or tubes.

All I have heard is S.S. and then I became interested in tube amps and tube integrateds. Well, I found out a lot of guys are using a tube preamp and a solid state amp. To me this makes a lot of sense because I could have the power of the solid state amp and the smoothness of the tube preamp.

I do not plan on trying different systems because it is very expensive and time consuming, I hope to get something set up and be happy with it. So far it is narrowed down to a tube pre and solid state amp or a powerful solid state class a/b integrated.

Thanks for any other input.

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I am using a Luxman SS int amp as a preamp with a Cayin TA 30 tube int amp with La Scalas with very good results so I am using a SS preamp with a tube amp.

I have a Ground Grid tube preamp that I am using as a tube buffer stage for my cd player. I am running my NAD C542 cd player to the GG tube preamp and then running the pre out from the GG to the CD in on my Luxman int amp which then goes to the Cayin TA tube amp. Today is the first day trying this and so far I like the sound. I will try it this way over the weekend and then take out the GG and run the C542 cd player like I normally do and listen to the difference.

You may have to experiment with gear, if you can find someone with your speakers and gear that sounds good then that makes things easier. If not then you may have to take some chances on equipment untill you find the right mix of equipment for your speakers.

Xman

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hi,

I use both.

With my Forte's a Cary SLI-80 in the triode mode. Great sound.

With my Cornwalls a EICO HF-81 or a AES AE-3 preamp with a ss

Soundcraftsman power amp. The EICO is delicate with beautuful midrange.

The tube preamp & ss amp is just as articulate and has much

more bass slam ( not unexpected with 230 watts/ch ). Next in line for

the Corns are a pair of Wright Sound Labs 2a3 monoblocks.

Larry

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I'm sure there are absolutely wonderful, unapproachably great, tube components.

However, my preferences are based on my experiences in having to keep things running.

I was an Air Traffic Control Radar Tech when I was in the Air

Force. I was stationed at Ramstein AB for three years. Our

airport surveilence radar was a solid state TI unit which took up a

whole building. The final approach radar was all tubes in a unit

on a turntable.

Other than routine maintence, I never had to touch the solid state stuff.

On the other hand, I was always up to my *** in the tube stuff.

Nothing like having a med-evac on final approach in the fog and no

radar. Gives you an appreciation for stuff that works when you

turn it on.

James

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