solid state vs tubes

The thing you have going though is the premise if you buy into it that some good tube and SS amps tend to sound more similar and less "tubey", which is the basis for my suggestions.
Mapman (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I agree that many good, modern tube and solid state amps sound more alike than different, but to my ears there remains a distinct difference.

I'm not sure what you mean by "tubey", but none of the tube amps I have preferred to solid state amps have what I would consider a "tubey" sound (rolled off highs, bloated, undefined bass, etc). I don't really care for those traits.

Not certain why that me dooms me either, unless you're suggesting that I'm doomed to own tube amps, which is not a doomsday scenario in my view.

Anyway, this all opinion. Nothing ever gets resolved in these discussions, and the circularity of the discussion continues ad infinitum.

the bottom line for me is that the last few hi fi shows I went to I never really liked any room that was powered with solid state amplifiers.

I would deliberatly NOT find out what was being used before listening but when I left the room I would ask - so as not to bias my opinion.

the solid state stuff sounds too flat and lifeless, the flat 2D images are stuck around the speakers, in comparison tubes have a big image and soundspace that seems full of life.

my opinion and ears...

I have to agree with Phaelon and Tvad that to meet what I find to be tube virtues, it is essential that they be in the amp, upstream tubes with SS amps is simply not the same thing, that took a long time to figure out, especially given what seems to a fairly long run recomendation of combing tubes in the pre with SS amp - a best of both worlds argument - that simply never worked that why for me. Which is not to say which is better, that might very well be a matter that can only be decided by personal preference after listening for yourself, but IF you want what is best from "tubes", I think there is no way around them being in your amps.

I've heard both very good tube systems and very good SS systems sound great. They're just coming to grips with the solution from two different angles. The better ones do tend to sound the same despite their different starting points.

Its only our limited exposure to all the implementations out there that gives rise to this debate.

I second that Musicman and blindjim said it best.

09-26-10: Nonoise
The better ones do tend to sound the same despite their different starting points.

I don't agree they tend sound the *same*, but I do believe some can sound similar. If they sounded the same, then there wouldn't be any debate.

Still, sounding similar is not good enough to cause me to switch back to SS amplification (and I've owned or auditioned some excellent SS amps with various appropriately matched speakers).