Are tube watts equal to solid state watts?

I think the issue is not that tube watts are any different in terms of power; the issue is distortion. Watt-for-watt, tube amplifiers (in general) make less of the distortions that the human ear objects to. The result is that with a transistor amplifier you rapidly run into a harshness that stops you from turning up the volume any higher, in avoidance of pain and discomfort. This does not happen as much with tubes and the result of *that* is that a smaller tube amplfier can often be driven to put out more 'comfort' watts than a much larger transistor amplifier can.

IOW there is a greater percent of 'usable' power in a tube amplifier... generally speaking that is.

I don't know about you but I like mine on white bread with mayonnaise, a little mustard, and lettuce.

Vic

On the one hand a watt is a watt. There is no way around it.
On the other hand, driving a tube amp into clipping is by far a less unpleasant experience as is the case with solid state amps, where, when they reach their limits, the sound breaks up, gets brittle and harsh. Not so, with well designed tube amps.They still sound musical, when the powermeter - should they have such a thing - are already well in the red.

ah and Vic, white bread is fattening, as is mayonnaise. You should try Pumpernickel!

Oops, I just saw that Elizabeth pointed out the same explanation, no Vic, not your sandwich, the amp thing... Should I erase my post? Nope, as the poet says: "Great minds think alike" (-;

Hlgoh2006, need anymore info? or do you feel your question has been answered?

Those meters on the old school receivers were(with few exceptions) NOT peak reading meters. They only showed average power output. Peak outputs easily exceed 10X the average output for a given listening level.