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Conrad-Johnson CVA50.
Back in the day, tubes were the <I>only</I> choice. Today, some audiophiles still consider them the only choice. Have you ever tried a tubed component in your system?
The only tube-based/hybrid products I have ever owned&#!51;Muscial Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD and Tri-Vista 300 inegrated ampare in my system now. They sound wonderful. Did I hear any of the differences associated with tube vs transistor components? Sure, but they weren't nearly as distinct as is often made out in the audio press.
I am too young to be from back in the day that tubes where the only choice, but my mono blocks, preamp and phono stage all have tubes. There was a time even my CD player had tubes, but I recently replaced this CD player with the p8i which graces Stereophile's most recent cover. I like the sound of tubes and it never tires me. I do have a solid-state backup power amplifier just in case a tube blows out.
I tried an older Lafayette integrated amp that I recapped and replaced all the tubes. Sounded very musical and smooth! I have also tried a Dynaco preamp and experienced a similar smoothness and wonderful musical sound. I ended up selling them both. Sometimes I wish I still had them. There's not much solid-state gear that can compete!
Yes, I had tube gear... 30 years ago! Why anyone brags about old-fashioned vacuum tubes that get smoking hot, slowly die, burn out and need replacement, get microphonic, break because they're made of glass, and are obscenely expensive to replace every couple of years is beyond me.
My preamp and amps (for highs and mids) are tubed. I'd opt for a tubed DAC too but for the heat in summer. Now I swap the tubes for my SS integrated (otherwise bass) amp in the hot months. Running an air conditioner so that I can run tubes in the summer seems like environmental terrorism.