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SET is the most musical platform for audio.
The last time we asked the tube-or-transistor question was almost three years ago (see the results <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showvote.cgi?40">here</A>). So, we're curious if reader opinion has shifted when it comes to tube versus solid state amplifier technology.
I'm waiting for "digital" amplification to become widespread before I buy a new amp. Not only does their sound quality appear to be excellent (Oooh - that bel Canto), the power requirements of many good solid state amplifiers is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
My last year's purchase of a well known broke-audiophile amp has opened my ears to music like never before. SET is obviously where it's at for me. I don't have the cash to recreate the live-musical-moment, but I can feel the emotion with my Zen just as well.
I mocked tubed equipment for years. Heavy, expensive, ineffecient, antiquated - solid-state was all I ate. Then I happened to sit in on a long term (several hours) demo of ARC, CJ, VAC tube equipment. I was hooked. Nothing's perfect of course, but to my ears, tubes do it better, overall.
Solid-state technology would be more successful (i.e. produce more musically satisfying sounds) if more manufacturers allowed users the option of switching between class A operation and class A/B, like Plinius amps do. Mosfet devices also appear to sound less clinical than bipolar output devices.
Tubes give too much character to the sound. I listen to many types of music and a good clean neutral solid state designhandles all types of music well. I have tubes in my guitar amp, but I wouldn't put my synth through it. The same applies for music.
I have tubes mostly and one trannie. If I could have anything I wanted, rather than what was given or almost given to me I would take tranistor as the tube stuff is way higher maintenance and, thus, has a higher operating cost. Both can sound excellent.
In spite of the advances made involving solid-state technology over the last several years,I still find myself preferring the sound presented by tube amplification. It's still a warmer, more musical sound which provides you with a sense of "being there" which solid-state equipment has yet to achieve. It's a feeling of what it was like to be in the recording studio.
Some choose their favorite kind of amplifier and then go in search of a speaker that is a good match for that amplifier. Others like myself search for a speaker that we like then go in search of an amplifier that is a good match for it. I like the Magnepans, and solid-state seems to be the proper amp to hook them up to. One day I'm gonna audition a tube amp with tube-friendly speakers. I like the easy maintenance of solid-state -- which is, pretty much, doing nothing.
When it comes to handling power, I prefer the more reliable transistor. When tubes need replacing, it impacts the sound too much. I have a Sonic Frontiers pre-amp with one tube. When it gets noisy and needs replacing, I can never get the same brand of tube. It changes the sound of my system and not always for the better.
I have a Sunfire power amp that works very well with maggies. It has enough juice at 4 ohms (600w/ch) to grab those panels and make them pay attention. Voltage source hook up only. You guys really shunned the whole Sunfire product line except in the home theater rag. I think the amount of money Carver was asking for their products drew you in. Too bad. While you couldn't get enough of Audio Alchemy (who?)a lot of products went right by. Sam Telig has the right idea.
Right now, I prefer solid state because it's within my budget and doesn't require re-tubing every other year. However, some solid state equipment can sound overly detailed and become irritating during long listening sessions. Whether tubed or not, I'm still listening for what sounds just right within my budget constraints.