05-20-09: Jeffkad
...is it possible that a tube-like ss amp offers the best combination/compromise
for someone like me who wants that tube-like liquidity and
bloom...
Define liquidity and bloom, and explain what they mean to you.
The Pass amps I own (XA-.5 series) have a grain-free clarity that's reminiscent
of tube amps I have owned (VAC and Atma-Sphere). When I auditioned the
NuForce Ref9V2 SE, I thought they also possessed a similar quality.
If by bloom you mean emphasized mids, or a 3D presentation that projects the
mids into the room, then I have not heard a solid state amp that qualifies.