Most Refined? Plinius 102 - Bryston 4B - Pass 250

Considering that you've owned tubes, the Bryston will be the driest of the ones you've mentioned. I would consider Sim Audio Moon since you are looking at the likes of Plinius and Pass Labs.

Thanks for the responses gentelmen.

As for "which came first", I think the amplifier is AS important as the speaker for making good music. I don't think any speaker could sound good if the amp was passing junk forward.

What impressed me in the Harbeth room was a sense of precision coming from the monitor. A sense of absolute control that translates into a clearer sense of the event being recorded.

I've heard others say that tubes tend to homogenize the character of a system so everything you play feels the same.

My concern is that, while impressive in the short term, the SS effect may be fatiguing in long listening sessions.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you can get the amp which is the current version of what Harbeth's designer used to voice his speakers- the Quad 909.

I use it to drive my Compact 7. I haven't tried other amps with these speakers but when I listen I never feel like its too warm, too bright, not transparent enough or the like. "Colurfully uncollored" is how REG described it.

No question the Plinius 102 is the best choice.