Trade- off, power SS vs tube magic.

I guess it's a matter of perspective and priorities.

I just replaced the four KT-88 power tubes on my amp at a cost of $160. The old set lasted about five years. That's about $2.70 a month to keep the amp running. I spend far, far more on monthly fees for TV, phone & internet and cell service.

My 50 watt/ch amp provides all the power I need. (My previous solid state amp was 150/ch.) I listen at the volumes I like with no discernible clipping or harshness.

I know others listen differently, in larger rooms, or far louder, and choose different speakers. They could easily prefer a different amp.

That said, I'm surprised that anyone who pursues quality audio as a hobby would grouse about amortized tube costs.

Why have to make a trade-off? Simply get a Butler Audio amp - tube goodness mated to MOSFET power. These show up from time to time on A'gon. I can tell you that I am tickled pink with mine - the last amp I will probably ever buy...

-RW-

A tube preamp can be a good compromise. SS can be very transparent, and the tube pre gives the tube sound.

Higher power, lower power top consideration is the speakers you're driving. Plenty of posts from people talking about the synergy of X speakers with Y amp. You know that. I hear some say this or that SS amp sounds like a tube amp, but it's the old apples to oranges comparison. I loved my tube amps, I love my current SS amp. My current NCSE has been called tube-like, but so have some models of CJ, Luxman, Pass, older SS Mac's. I feel SS and tube amps are just different in subtle ways and there is no getting around it. I like to hop around every three-four years (well did until the economy tanked), so much more pleasant moving lighter SS amps than tube boat anchors, and moving to Arizona meant I didn't need another space heater. I really didn't mind chasing down old RCA Black plates and NOS British tubes (really interesting learning about tubes and the culture around it), but saving the cost of tubes for music is nice too.

>>Let's try to keep the speaker variable out of this.
Orpheus10<<

Ridiculous.

The performance of each is dependent on the other.

Do some homework on the subject.