Preamp Tone: Tube vs. Solid State

[Steady339]

I usually pair my SS preamp with my SS power amp, but tonight I decided to try combining my Doge 8 tubed preamp (NOS Telefunken tubes) with my Solid State Hafler P-3100 amp. I was struck with just how much better the Doge tubed preamp did with reproducing the natural tones of the orchestral instruments! All the orchestral instruments just are sounding so much more natural and right with the tubed preamp because the correct harmonic overtones of the instruments are being reproduced! Even flutes, a tough instrument's sound to reproduce, is better. When I hear flutes in a concert hall, it sounds like their sound goes all the way up to the ceiling of the hall. With my tubed preamp the height of the flute tones are reproduced with some natural-sounding height, unlike the low-height flute sound with my SS preamp.