Switched From Tubes To SS???Glad You Did???

I tried solid state again several years ago, but missed the tubes and stayed with them. Ultimately, it's personal taste. There are diehards (and forum threads!) with opposing opinions.

I tried an Audio Research LS-25. The noise and lack of control in in the bottom 2 octaves was to much for me. Got a used McCormack MLD. Kris at SMC did his Platinum+ upgrade on it. I know this hard to except but even the midrange is better than the Audio Research LS-25. I am very happy with it.. My phono stage is an Audio Research PH-3SE which is a hybrid. So I still have tubes in the system. The PH-3SE is very quiet and very good in the bass. It has the reference mod in it from Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound.

I tried a tube DAC in my rig and switched to a similar SS unit after switching to a tube pre-amp. There were too many tubes affecting the sound at that point.

The sound now is spot on.

That tube DAC is in my second system now which is all SS otherwise and gels well there.

I have gone back and forth many times over the years. I am selling my all tube rig right now to go to a simple SS setup.

I have owned mostly solid state gear. I had a Counterpoint preamp, and loved it (tubes) but it failed too many times So i tossed it. (sorry that idid that though)
Then i found a good deal on an Audio Research Sp-10 (one of those 'holy grail' of tubed preamps. It was 'OK' but noisy. I got an Audio Research Sp-15 which is all solid state except for the Phono section (three tubes). The Sp-15 blew the Sp-10 totally out of contention. Sold the Sp-10 straight off.
Still have the Sp-15,(and use it just as a second phono section sometimes) but wanted an Audio Research REF 3, so after fooling around and hearing a Bryston BP-26 I bought the Bryston. The used Audio Research REF 3 might have been better, but the fact of no tubes in the Bryston and that thus i could leave it on 24/7 forever, made it a no brainer for me. (after auditioning it)
So I also happen to own a VAC Standard tube preamp. It is no great shakes, but i do use it as a tube buffer for my digital output.
So, all in all I like tube sound, I do not like the hassle of tubes. But I like clarity and purity more than tube sound. The Bryston BP-26 solid state does that for me.
(I had noticed a reviewer I respected owned a BP-26 in his own system, and that made me look at it, glad i did, and the BP 1.5 phono, separate phono section is also a gem.)
So I am not a fan of the big bloated warm 'tube' sound. What i did like was the HF smoothness and beauty.
Having found that in a solid state product. i am happy.