Yes. I am running 2 systems: the first is all tubed except for the cd/dac and tuner. Analog delivers the goods on both systems. The second system is in my bedroom, and is solid state. Analog still delivers the goods, and I don't miss the "tube hassle" in the bedroom system at all. In fact, I might just consider going solid state in the :big rig" too, although I am quite happy with it. (Bedroom system: Mr 78 McIntosh tuner, Toshiba sd9200/ARC dac, Garrard turntable/shure v15 cartridge/ YBA integra DT with phono stage, and Martin Logan SL3's; The "big rig" in the living room is: McIntosh tuner (MR 67, this one is tubed), Toshiba SD 9200, Meridian 563 dac, Oracle Delphi Mk1 TT/grado master cartridge MM, or, my trusty old AR TT, Atma-Sphere MP 3 with phono stage, Revox a77 RTR (no tubes in the RTR tape machine), Atma-Sphere M60's, and Harmon Kardon Sixty's.
can a tube-o-phile be happy with ss?
I switched to tubes over a decade ago, after realizing that I no longer listened to the stereo because it did not sound like real music and ss and digital were irritating, on a subconscious level. Went to all tubes and mostly LP's. It worked. I even prefer triode with no negative feedback settings, usually. Now ss has supposedly improved, and its advantages beckon, e.g., less heat, electricity and trouble, better bass and perhaps more detail and clarity. Have any of you voluntarily gone back to the dark side and been content? (with the understanding that it never really ends, for an audiophile). On an unlimited budget one might have few complaints, but this question is necessarily in the context of a semblance of fiscal sanity, not top of the line Boulder, Ayre or Zanden.