Do you have both a Solid State and Tube System?

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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Do you have both a Solid State and Tube System? And do you like one for the exact reasons you like the other, but in reverse. I know, strange way to put that.

What I like about my SS system, is fast, sharp, in the face slam (depending on material). But on the other hand, I like my Tubes for laid back, airy, slower paced, well you know....Tube sound.

I like the smooth crash of cymbals thru tubes, but I also like crisp and distinct the way it comes thru on Solid State setups.

What do you all think? I know there is lots of all Tube or All SS camps, but I know we all have way too much gear for just one system.

The 2 very far apart setups are in my sig.
 
Absolutely!

I love SS for the carefree, no worry, on all the time use. Sure, bass is a little tighter and sound is a little crisper, but not in a bad way.

My tube gear just lets me melt into the music. Full 3D and more holographic than SS, absolutely wonderful on voice. Tube life and maintenance are always in the back of my mind.
 
Well, I don't have any tube gear, so I can't give a distinguished answer (and don't really qualify to answer)...however, I have something rather interesting of my own to mention if it's ok.
All my gear is solid state obviously, but I have a modern system with all the above mentioned description (and I like tight, clean musical bass - I listen to Prog-rock among other genres and that demands tight, clean bass).

My second system is a vintage set-up consisting of a Sansui 8080db (when I swap it in on occasion), a Pioneer PL510A TT, NEC old school CD Player and a Squeezebox Touch, (again all solid state) however, when my Sansui 8080db is the engine of that system it sounds like a Tube system as described anyway...well, pretty close perhaps.
It is exactly what you describe Brian: laid back, airy and I would add slower paced and depth of sound that literally makes me melt. Now some of that could be due to the speakers I like to drive with it (DCM TF-600s) and I'd hasten to wager that it would sound completely different if I used different speakers.
It sounds that way on everything and no matter the source: CD, Streaming and vinyl record. I don't know what makes a solid state unit sound like that and I wish someone would explain it to me, but all I know is that this one does.

I've never heard a 100% Tube system myself so I can only go by what others describe, but would like to hear one sometime. I don't know that I would want to own tube gear though unless it's not as scary as it seems to me.
 
joeinid said:
Absolutely!

I love SS for the carefree, no worry, on all the time use. Sure, bass is a little tighter and sound is a little crisper, but not in a bad way.

My tube gear just lets me melt into the music. Full 3D and more holographic than SS, absolutely wonderful on voice. Tube life and maintenance are always in the back of my mind.
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Joe, why does your avatar look like something that could also be at home on a dragster?:) Very nice though.
 
MusicDirector said:
Joe, why does your avatar look like something that could also be at home on a dragster?:) Very nice though.
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Ha!

That's the limited edition of one of my amps. Love the way it looks and sounds. :)

CPP said:
I do, might not be as high end as some but the sound from both tube and SS is easy to listen to.
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I'd love to hear your Quicksilver amps. I'm sure they are amazing.
 
Yes, I have both solid state (Dag monos/Dag preamp) and Tubes (Cary CAD 211 FE monos and Cary SLP-05 preamp). I enjoy having the variety and switching back and forth as the mood strikes. If I'm going to listen to Bocelli or similar, then the tubes are on. If I'm going to listen to rock, then the Dags are on. But both amps are superb for any kind of music, but they obviously have their strengths. It's usually based on mood and length of time I'm going to listen. Quick listen and it's Dags. Long listen and the Cary's come on.

You learn to appreciate the strengths and recognize the weakness of both. The tonality of tubes is tough to beat. The drive, speed and bass punch is tough to beat with solid state.

I have heard a few amps do both things well: VAC, ARC ("ARC4Life"), new Pass XA.8's and McIntosh, to name a few.


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It does.

The cool thing about the new McIntosh amps is the tube sentry. If a tube goes bad, the amp shuts down and gives you an idea which one might be suspect. Amazing. Gotta love it!

MusicDirector said:
I'm smitten by it's looks and I'm sure it sounds like it looks too!:eyebrow:
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joeinid said:
It does.

The cool thing about the new McIntosh amps is the tube sentry. If a tube goes bad, the amp shuts down and gives you an idea which one might be suspect. Amazing. Gotta love it!
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Now that would be the kind of tube gear for me!
 
I have been playing both at the same time lately. Allnic's H3000 phono and L3000 line coupled with Bryston's big 28B monos.
 
I use both tube and ss amps in my main system. I use the ss amp (Jeff Rowland model 5) for casual listening and HT. For music I usually use tube amps (either Ray Lumley M100 mono blocks or a Beard P100) as I find the sound more engaging. Perhaps tube amps work better with planar speakers.amps.JPG
 
Hi Mark,

How well do these go together? I've been wanting 28BSST2's for a while now.

Mark Jones said:
I have been playing both at the same time lately. Allnic's H3000 phono and L3000 line coupled with Bryston's big 28B monos.
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Albert said:
I use both tube and ss amps in my main system. I use the ss amp (Jeff Rowland model 5) for casual listening and HT. For music I usually use tube amps (either Ray Lumley M100 mono blocks or a Beard P100) as I find the sound more engaging. Perhaps tube amps work better with planar speakers.View attachment 6367
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You look great in that pic Albert.
 
All tubes everywhere except my Constellation Centaur amp which is a perfect match with Magico S5 speakers and sounds like an set amp. Oh so delicate and ballsy at the same time.
 
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