Tubes vs Solid State


I have have been listening to music all my life but have only recently started experimenting with different amplifier and/or speakers/component combinations. I have recently moved from Parasound JC 1's to Classe Cam 400 monoblocks which I have both loved (maybe the prior a bit more) and are contemplating another move. I have been very intrigued by tube monoblocks and have the opportunity now to move to ARC ref 600's. I can also get Mark Levinson 33's for about the same cost. I am just uncertain about the Ref 600's as I am worried that I might be disappointed in the tube sound.

Can someone with more experience perhaps help me out here ? I am using the amps as part of a home-theatre setup driving 802 d's and other 800 diamond fronts and rears. I would really appreciate some good advice here.
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Showing 4 responses by unsound

Us the right tool for the job at hand. B&W's work better with ss, some other speakers work better with tubes. Choose your speakers, then choose the appropriate amplification.
If those 802 d's and 800 diamonds are the B&W's I think they are, then you're probably going to regret going from ss to tubes.
There are many reasons why a speaker designer might choose to use a low impedance, one of which, as you have alluded to, is that it's easier to get deeper bass response with a lower impedance, (at least with most typical dynamic speakers).
...And many of us clearly find that lower impedance speakers, and ss amps are the better approach for more natural/real sound.