DonR
Major Contributor
That is completely understandable as most low-level tube equipment like a pre-amp is designed to be relatively distortion-free and you don't get those intentional harmonics associated with pushing a tube amp hard. A tube buffer, if designed correctly, adds those harmonics to the low-level signal.I actually tried ~that.
Both the tubeamp and the 120 SINAD amp have pre functionality. So I tried both ways
Same DAC, same HPs, same everything else.
- 120amp_as_pre->tubeamp
- tubeamp_as_pre->120amp.
For some reason I preferred the sound of the first combo. It's also more comfortable and the volume-knob of the 120amp is probably better (more linear etc..). Did not do any measurements or serious tests, I just liked it so.