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tube amplifiers, unless very high-powered, simply do not produce tight, deep bass or dynamics. A good SS amp can be a s smooth and mellifluous as a tube amp but provide a more balanced overall sound.

Since I like large scale music, be it Tchaikovsky or Pink Floyd, I went for tranistors. My Proceed BPA2 has some of the same parts as the Mark Levinson amps, and the same sonic signature. I couldn't have gotten enough muscle in the lower octaves from tube amps in that price range.

Sure, Valve amps don't sound realistic, but neither do transistors, and neither do any loudspeakers. In many cases, there is no musical event to be realistic to - and realistic reproduction of the master tape means buying the same amp and speakers used to record said master tape. Valve amps, with the right speakers are an aesthetic choice that looks and sounds great. My system produces an enjoyable, dynamic sound that is clear and non-resonant. It's also completely non-tiring or annoying. Not all recordings sound great on it though. But most recordings sound very good.

I use the tube driven STAX OMEGA-II Earspeaker System. I had the opportunity to compare the tube & solid state & I found the tube driver sounds sweeter & more engaging than the solid state driver. The tube driver sounds wonderful on vocal, strings & piano. Just a little weak on the bass, which is not a problem at all with me.

I use Mark Levinson No. 383. I don't need the power to go all the way down to 1 ohm, and this is the best-sounding alternative to separates—plus, all I need is one extra interconnect. Although expensive, you would need to pay about twice the price to get noticably better sound.

The best way to reach music reality at home.

I have a McCormack Power Drive DNA 0.5 Deluxe Edition. I purchased it following a very favorable review. I wanted something with moderate power and very reliable. It works well with my tubed preamp(Conrad-Johnson). I have had it for about 4 years and it has worked faithfully. It just keeps sounding better and better with age.

H-K Citation IV and homebrew 6AQ8/Sovtek 2A3 IT coupled SE. I like the noise it makes.

I like the clean sound and reliability from my Anthem MCA II. All for under $800.

I don't have an unlimited budget, so a stereo amp is almost mandatory. But frankly I prefer solid state. I've heard some good tube amps, but good solid state gear just plain sounds better, with more inner detail and authority. When you add in lower cost and reliability, the only amp I'll use a tube in is my guitar amp.

Passive bi-amp with 4 identical solid state amps. I need the power for my Apogees.

Two solid state amps; high and low

(Sigh) It's what I can afford.

Paradigm Reference Active 40's

Conrad Johnson MF2100. It sounds great and was affordable. Plenty of power to drive my 1.6QR, Maggies.

I wanted good sound at a budget price level. My dealer recommended two solid state integrateds: the Arcam Alpha 7 and a Cambridge Audio model. Both offered terrific sound. I chose the Arcam for its MM phono section. I did not audition others because the next nearest high-end dealer is several hours away. I am completely satisfied with the Alpha 7. It performs well with the various genre of music I enjoy.

YBA. It's about the music.

Good, clean tube amplification & preamplification, quite simply, allows your speaker system to reproduce music in a way solid state has yet to match. Read it this way: More Natural.

conrad johnson mf2200 amp running highs on my monilith speakers and 2 nht sa3 monoblock bass amps for the lows all running direct from my c.j. dr1 transport an my audio research dac 5d111s

I don't have a true multi-amp system, so to speak, but I did not see "both" listed above. You see, I switch off between a tube dual-mono amp (upgraded Music Reference RM9) and solid-state amp (Monarchy SM70 Pro, Class-A single-ended Mosfet), depending on my mood. The tube amp has more of the deeper, rich tube sound, with excellant ambient retrieval, while the Class-A solid-state has more punch and quickness to it (but still liquid sounding for a sand amp, Class-A gives it that magic). This amp suits me when I want it a little punchier and more "rocking," so to speak. Both are wonderful sounding amps that I have no desire to part with, or choose one over the other.

I use tube amps because I find tehy have the potential to allow the musics emotion as well as the material unlike the sterile sounding solid state amps.

I have three systems in my home and two are powered by tube amps—a Audio Research VT100 Mk2 and a NYAL Futterman OTL-4—the final system is powered by a Byrston 2.

Adcom GFA 5800. 400 big'uns into 4 ohms, good open dynamics and solid bass. Since the factory rep' lived across the street I purchased it at half price!

I use a Krell KAV-500, and it plays my super efficient Infinity Composition Preludes just fine. I like both music and movies, but really enjoy the concert videos like Casino Lights '99. I purchased my amp due to a recommendation from Robert Harley when he was a reviewer for Stereophile Guide to Home Theater. I purchased the Preludes from a review in Stereophile. While I heard neither prior to purchase, both turned out to be the best audio purchases I've ever made. I'm content.

Because I am a die-hard vinylphile!

Come on, folks, get a life. It's just an amplifier. Do you really think that at the time of the final tally, any of this will make one bit of difference? Of course not, so just sit back, and learn to enjoy what we have, which, as far as I can see, is the single biggest problem this hobby faces.

I am running NHT 2.9s off a Sunfire stereo power amp... the more power for the NHTs, the better!

2 Channel Solid State. It was cheap to buy and is cheap and easy to maintain. It also sounds good to me. (It's a BK ST1400, BTW)

A single-ended triode 300B amplifier, tube rectified. Why? Because it sounds just wonderful! The best yet in a 50-year hobby.

McIntosh circa 97-98 I still like it. Yes I'm sure there are better, I still like it, whenI don't I'll change