OT: Tube Audio

[Chuck Guzis]

On 10/19/2005 at 10:19 PM Zane H. Healy wrote:

>OK, since there seem to be a fair amount of people into Tube audio, 
>or at least with a knowledge of it.  Would someone care to explain 
>the following to someone that is used to an all in one unit such as a 
>Sony Receiver.  What is the purpose of separate Amp and Pre-Amps.  I 
>think I understand the whole phono pre-stage, but I've yet to find a 
>decent explanation of the rest, and I'm looking to switch to tubes 
>for playback of records (primarily Vinyl, but I'm also interested in 
>78's).

Purely from memory, but I believe one generally used a separate pre-amp
mostly due to hum issues.  The power supply for the preamp could make use
of lower plate voltages, better regulation and DC heater supplies.

Or so I think I recall.

Cheers,
Chuck