I have owned many solid state amps and have heard most of the others named here. I have yet to find a SS amp that can match the sound of "live" music as well as a tube amp. If you can be satisfied with solid state, go for it. But if you are striving for "real" sound my suggestion is tubes.
Help learn diff.between SS and Tube
I am auditioning an Anthem Amp 2 (a Hybrid amp) and it will be a change from my SS Marantz MA 500s in a bi-amp config. I have not had the Anthem more than a few hours (the amp is broke in) and I think right off the bat the Anthem seems to have less bass than my SS. The bass seems to be there, my room shakes, but its not as something, I can't put my finger on it, less "punchy?" Can someone pleez tell me the differences typical of tube and ss amps. Thanks. m-