Tube Dac or Tube Amp, Which and Why?
Dec 26, 2012 at 5:09 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9

Rinoue

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Hey headfiers,
 
I have a Stax Signature Lambda SR-404 (Normal edition) and a Stax SRM-252S Driver Unit, and I wanted to get a Tube component in the chain somewhere. This is where I realized I wasn't sure if I should upgrade the driver unit that has a tube in it, or upgrade just the dac with a tube in it, OR if I need tubes in both dac and driver unit. If so which and why??
 
Any insight is much appreciated
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 5:18 PM Post #2 of 9
Common thought is tube amp, ss DAC. Tubes color the signal (generally) so you want your source as pristine as possible. I run a tube DAC with SS amps for better efficiency on orthos at the moment.
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:15 PM Post #4 of 9
Quote:
Common thought is tube amp, ss DAC. Tubes color the signal (generally) so you want your source as pristine as possible. I run a tube DAC with SS amps for better efficiency on orthos at the moment.

Can you recommend a good tube amp..
If was thinking of upgrading my mjolnir,..keeping the gungnir,& will be using he-6' ,& HD800's
 
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 9:39 PM Post #5 of 9
For which hp? The two you mention need completely different amps. IMO, the 800s on the EC amps, (qualified) SP amps, Woo amps, DNA, RSA. The HE 6 owners who use tube amps are rare. Wuwhere has been using a couple powerful tube amps. Dr.Roberts is using a BAT 55SE. Not had enough experience with tubes with enough power to recommend.
 
Dec 26, 2012 at 10:37 PM Post #6 of 9
What are you using as a source for the Stax rig at the moment? What's your budget? A better DAC in general can help a lot with them.
 
Dec 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM Post #7 of 9
Quote:
What are you using as a source for the Stax rig at the moment? What's your budget? A better DAC in general can help a lot with them.

I'm using Flac> Foobar2000> Wasapi> USB> AudioGD Compass DAC> Stax SRM-252S> SR-404 Lambda Signatures . My budget would be around $700 maybe $800 but I don't want to go that high.
 
Mar 27, 2013 at 8:21 AM Post #8 of 9
Hi Guys,
 
I would like to ask that, if i am using Tube DAC + Tube Amp... what is the sound result compare to i use SS DAC + Tube Amp?
 
If i am using Tube DAC + SS amp ... is it equal to SS DAC + Tube Amp?
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Dec 17, 2013 at 6:47 AM Post #9 of 9

  Hi Guys,
 
I would like to ask that, if i am using Tube DAC + Tube Amp... what is the sound result compare to i use SS DAC + Tube Amp?
 
If i am using Tube DAC + SS amp ... is it equal to SS DAC + Tube Amp?
 
Thanks in advance.

seems like your question is answered in the 2nd post lol.
Common thought is tube amp, ss DAC. Tubes color the signal (generally) so you want your source as pristine as possible. I run a tube DAC with SS amps for better efficiency on orthos at the moment.
 

So the best set-up would be a SS DAC + tube amp.
 

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