I have had some expensive tube equipment and similarly priced SS gear. I have been a hobbyist for over 40 years and tube gear sounded better for the first 25 years or so. The last 10 to 15 years have seen SS equipment getting dramatically better to the point where the best SS equipment actually seems to better the tube gear in performance across the entire frequency range.
I suppose there will always be a 'perception' of esoteric superiority with tubes for some folks. For them I say go for it, but please NO WHINING about the cost and problems that comes with the territory.
I suppose there will always be a 'perception' of esoteric superiority with tubes for some folks. For them I say go for it, but please NO WHINING about the cost and problems that comes with the territory.