Musing: I have a 4 output tube with 4 input tube classic push/pull design amp. It has more than enough juice (65 watts per side, 85 watts peak) to power the speakers I use in the room I use, and when I think about replacing it with a well regarded amp with twice the output tubes I consider the expense of tube replacement or compulsive tube rolling, and all that extra heat from the amp. I might get more efficient speakers someday and score a small pair of mono single ended or OTL amps, but adding more tubes doesn't appeal to me much...at least this week anyway.
More Tubes = Better Sound
I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on the sound quality of using more tubes to get the same power as an amp that uses less tubes? I had a pair of VTL MB 750 and they had 12 tubes for the output. I am looking at an ARC ref 600, however, it is 250 watts less and uses almost 3 times as many tubes as the VTL MB 750's. does anyone know the logic here? I am thinking of passing up on the 609's due to the expense if the tubes, but is there an advantage to using so many tubes?