Now, there are more kind of distortions than we even can name it or even know about. We know about distortions as: THD, IMD, clipping/overload generated distortions, Fim distortion, etc , etc. but exist other kind of distortions that normally almost no one name it as distortions examples of these could be:
- Inverse RIAA eq. deviation level, item frequency response bandwindth, item slew rate, item headroom level, item output impedance, item type of amplification class operation, feedback levels used in the design, item noise level figure, active or passive gain in phono stages, damping factor figure, common mode rejection, crosstalk, dynamic range, etc, etc.
All those parameters and many more makes a difference for the better or worse and contribute to generated distortions additional to the " normal " ones. Tube designs are and have inferior way inferior figures that a good SS designs.
Tube just can't do it, it's fully limited technology ( between other things. ) at both frequency extremes that are the frame of the MUSIC in a home audio system, it's where MUSIC belongs and not to mid-range as almost any one can think.
Tubes are just with out any single way to deffend it other that what you are accustom to that is wrong and it does not matters that you like it because as I posted: what we ike does not matters, what matters is HOW THINGS MUST BE.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC not DISTORTIONS,
R.