Have you moved from tubed amplification to solid state amplification... Why?


I'd like feedback from those who have moved from primarily using Tubed pre and power amplification to Solid State pre and power amplification in their systems. 

Feel free to share what you found relevant to your experience. The questions below are only meant as a starting point, and reflect what I'm curious about.

- What was the initial motivation or driver that made you consider the move?

- Once you made your choice, what were your specific reasons for doing so?

- How happy and satisfied have you been with this move? Any regrets? 

- Lessons learned? Advice to share?

Thank you.


NOTE: Please, this is not about which is Better. Let's not make it about that. I like both solutions and the varied options for each. Thanks!!!

NOTE: I searched the Forums through 2013 for relevant threads...If you know of one or more that relates to my questions, please add the link. Thank you.
david_ten

Showing 2 responses by bdp24

The Quads to which I was referring are the originals ("57’s"). Modjeski says he used that speaker for evaluating his design choices in the development of his RM-10 amp (35w/ch in it’s Class A/B version, 25w in the Class A version). The Quad 63 and it’s descendants are a very different story.

Modjeski offers not only push/pull Class A/B amps, but also low-powered single-ended amps, and an OTL (as well as an ESL speaker with a dedicated direct-drive---no output transformer---tube power amp). The Quad 57/OTL amp is a classic combination (especially the Futterman OTL’s), but Roger makes the case that an OTL amp is in fact a poor choice for use with that Quad. His reasoning was explained in the now-dormant Audio Circle Music Reference Forum.

Some speakers are optimized for, or are more appropriate for use with, either a tube amp or a ss one. terry9’s Quads were used by Roger Modjeski in the development of his Music Reference RM-10 tube amp, and the pairing is to die for. That amp is, however, completely inappropriate for use with any of the Magneplanar speakers.

If one wants to avoid tubes, the smaller Pass and First Watt amps work very well with the Quads. So with that speaker, you can go either way, at a relatively affordable price. On the other hand, to power Maggies with tubes, a lot more dough needs to be spent to equal the capabilities of ss.