Low power twin vs. high power twin

[GibsonLover]

Hi gang,
New build coming up, but first:
Can anyone comment on the amount of headroom you get with the preamps in
both of these amps? I cannot quantify from the schematic the difference you get with:
(3) gain stages and tweed tone stack feeding a split load PI (5E8-A)
and
(2) gain stages with tone stack feeding a long tail PI (5F8-A)

Part of my confusion is seeing the three gain stages, and reading some people's comments that the high-power has less headroom.
I'm sure it's a matter of semantics to some degree, but if both were feeding the same 6L6 P-P output, which preamp and PI has more headroom?

I'm thinking the low-power model with a MV after the last gain stage, or moving the volume after the tone stack would be a cool front end. Comments?

[pdf64]

Stock I would assume they are about the same sensitivity. Of the 3 voltage gain stages in the 5E8A, 2 of them are lower gain 12AY7 triodes, and 2 of them are in negative feedback loops. Whereas the 2 voltage gain stages in the 5F8A have no nfb and can be set pretty much wide open, plus the phase splitter LTP has voltage gain.
But you aren't going to run them stock, so you can mod either to get the result you're after, though the 5E8A input stage could be configured like the 5F8A input, and there would be a spare preamp tube you could use to cascade more gain. Your choice is down to B+ configuration, 2 or 4 output tubes, then cathodyne or LTP phase splitter, and number of pre amp tubes. If you go for the LTP, a dual pot MV after it gives excellent results.
Peter.