Tube or solid state amp or amps?

Bostonjim - Congrats on the CATs. One of my 3 favorite systems at CES this year used a pair of CAT Monoblocks (along with a Reimyo CD player, forget what pre and Ascendo speakers). Rock solid bass, clean natural midrange, powerful and engaging sound. Beautiful to look at, too, with all those big tubes in the open.

Mrtennis - I remember you once posted that you like dull, boring sound (or similar words). Have you ever heard tube amps by AtmaSphere, JJ, or CAT? I suspect you would not like any of these, as they are rather lively and engaging sounding. On the other hand, you might prefer the sound of old Hafler solid state, as I remember, it had a definite laid-back quality. Hovland's solid state has a very easy-to-listen-to quality, which you also might find appealing. Perhaps there is one aspect of sound that you are focusing on that is more prevalent among solid state than tube gear. If that one trait is the most important thing to you, I understand your point, but I have not found such a distinguishing trait that universally identifies ss vs. tube.

Tube vs. solid state is a useless distinction. I have auditioned many amplifiers, and I find there is much overlap in tube and solid state sounds, and that tube amps and solid state amps vary widely in their sound. Of all the amplifiers that I have auditioned, the two that sound most alike are the Pass Labs Aleph 3 (SS)and the AtmaSphere MA-1s (Tube). My JJ electronics tube amp sounds more "solid state" than the Aleph 3. Although I've not heard them side-by-side, I suspect the same would be true of Hovland's solid-state offerings. Audiopax makes fabulous sounding tube and solid state amps that sound neither solid statey nor tubey. I have heard the AR LS-25 pre-amp, which I thought sounded very tubey, and very different than the Atma-Sphere MP3. And on and on...
You also need to consider how much you can tolerate heat, maintenance, and tubeomortis nervosa, the constant anxiety that your tubes are slowly dieing and squashing your sound, but you just don't realize it, followed by the cost of replacing your tubes way more than they need to be, because there's no way to tell, or buying a tube tester (and hoping ITs rare vintage tubes don't blow).
Sorry, but there is no correct answer. It depends on a lot of things.

Raygun - I agree wholeheartedly with all you say. While I can hear the differences between components in my system when comparing side-by-side, and have taken many steps toward better sound, I often wonder if these small steps have added up to enough of a big step to be worth the effort I've put into it.

You're mood while listening is as important a component as anything else. I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to say, and have been tryuing to write it for a while, but I'm just too tired!! But I agree with you, Ray!

It is very reasonable to become very stressed out over spending a large percentage of your disposable income (whether that be hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of $$), yet it is extremely difficult to judge equipment in this state of mind.