Slam possible with Tubes instead of SS ??

Tvad
thanks for the good information...
So can you recommend a ss amp that would have the tube sound and work well with the Snells?

Tube amps with slam include the higher powered ARC and VTL amps, even with cone speakers. My own Quickslver M-135s definitely do the "slam thing".

So can you recommend a ss amp that would have the tube sound and work well with the Snells?
Blueskiespbd (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I can't, no.

I'm not one who believes there are solid state amps that sound like tubes.

My favorite solid state amps are the Pass Labs XA-.5 series, but they are not in your budget. A used XA-30.5 sells for around $3000. They have much of the treble and midrange clarity of a god tube amp, but they still do not have the three dimensionality of a tube amp.

You might be able to arrange to purchase a demo/used unit from RenoHifi with the *possibility* of a return (I can't say for certain).

I am in the boat with Tvad on that issue as well;it is probally best to try and audition amps if you can in your own system;if you can not then try to get to a dealer and audition the amps there. Solid state amps that performed for me were: mccormack dna-1 monoblocks,B&K m200 sonata monoblocks,forte model 4 and the amps I have now Jeff Roland model 6 monoblocks.
There are solid state amps that do get close but in my opinion they miss the mark on the tube sound.

I replaced a McIntosh MC402 (SS) with a VTL ST150 (6550 tubes) and was blown away by how much better the ST150 sounded all round. Lots of slam for 1/2 the price.

But each person/stereo is different and what works for me may not work for you.