Tubes? Transistors? Which are better?

You are always on point Garfish. I agree with everything you just said. I think the reason people like Fremer is that he pushes analog over digital. Otherwise, he makes more neophyte reviewer(even for us amateurs here) mistakes than should be accepted. He should really issue an apology for the things he said in that Muse 160 review. The biggest beef I have with Stereophile is that the best reviewers(DO, RH, SS, CG, WP, RJR, MC, RD, TJN) have either left, or ceded space to MF, JS(HORRIBLE!!!), KR, CS, etc. leaving a TREMENDOUS downturn in the quality of reviews. And JA seems to only review non-serious stuff now. The reason I bought my Jadis was that it could the things I loved best about the OTL/SET, yet still kick butt. And I don't have to worry about what speakers I am driving(for the most part). I truly feel that the main thing of this hobby is to do whatever you like, as that is all that matters. Happy listening.

All roads lead to Rome... Good gear is good gear, transistor gear is just much harder to design. Very few transistor designs truly please me, but some do.
Tubes can run in much simpler (therefore easier to design, analyse and voice) circuits.
If I had to choose only one, it would be tubes, but my system is a mixture of both.....

The impression I'm getting is that the ss amps have great detail and bass, but tubes create a soft, pleasing image for mids and highs. Why not take advantage of both in an active biamp pattern? I'm presently using a Mark Leninson 334 to drive my K-horns and LaScalas. The bass doesn't get any better than this, but the mids and highs are a bit harsh at times. I'm thinking about trying a Rane AC22 active crossover to split the signal to the ML334 for the bass, and a Conrad Johnson Premier 12 to handle the mids and highs. Any comments on this idea?

Red: first try upgrading your internal speaker wiring & the crossover too. Refer to the Klipsch site forums & look up the ALK crossover, or email me directly for info.

I find the highs made by SS repro to be a bit harsh on my ears, but other than that it is the same as far as distortion comfort goes. I prefere SET but own and enjoy most types of analog, keeping my digital to just my disc player.