i am looking to replace my Krell with tube amps,

The two best amps I have heard are a valve and a high powered digital. Valve amps shine on vocals; Dianna Krall, Sinatra, Adele all sound divine. I was with a guy who had never really heard a valve amp before and we played some of that stuff on the digital amp - very good - but we put my valve amp on - his eyes went wide - he couldn't believe how much better the vocals were - so real live and present. But just to make the point it is source dependent we put on some Dire Straights - Private Investigations. The voice is at low volume in that track so you really have to wind it up to hear it over the music which tests the dynamics and power of your amp. Nice on the valve amp - no question - but when we put the high power digital on - no contest - the dynamics of the background and overall ease of the entire performance was way better.

Bottom line here - what do you listen to - rock, heavy metal , classical or a wide variety of music - get high power SS. Listen mostly to Jazz and vocals (as I do) - the valve vamp is the go. I also listen to a lot of 2ch HT so the valve amp is out for me - darn - but it is divine.

Oh and I want to add both those amps in the comparison are ultra high end - both those amps easily blow away MAC 501's for example which aren't easy.

Thanks
Bill

Hi Chris

Auditioning is the only answer.

If you do not play highly dynamic music and stick to music valve amps shine on I at one time even used an 8W amp SET - (Trafomatic Experience 2) on some 87db speakers no problem so power is not really an issue.

However the very best valve amp I have heard - and I have heard a few these days - is the amp I mentioned previously:
http://www.westonacoustics.com/page007.html

The guy built it as a special order for me but was so impressed with how it sounded decided to make it part of his line up. The issue though is the guy that makes them is good - and plenty of people know it - so there is a huge wait time - mine took nine months. But if you want the best - that's it - and at 45W is quite loud enough. Of course not as dynamic as the 500W SS I also mentioned and on some music you will notice it but still quite good.

Thanks
Bill