solid state vs tubes


has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?

the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.

this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.

if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.

why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
mrtennis

Showing 5 responses by rtn1

It has been said that Pass XA.5 has a tube-like sound. I no longer understand what that means. To my ears, the Pass has a midrange on par with BAT, CAT, and Berning. That is, it has midrange depth, fullness, and CLARITY. Many SS amps have a midrange HAZE that everyone thinks is tube-like. To me, the essence of tubes is not haze, although there are certainly tube amps and preamps that smear the presentation. Some tube amps can also limit treble extension, and make the music sound homogenous and dull. Good tubes create a 3D, textured, plump, and clear midrange that sounds natural. They can shape the attack and decay of the note to create an increased sense of space.

However, I think the Pass surpasses tube amps, particularly in terms of low noise, bass depth, an effortlessness/relaxed presentation, and control during crescedos. I have to give credit to the BAT tubed preamp for contributing to this sound, in addition to the Tripoint Troy and supporting cables. If my system was behind a screen, I don't think someone would be able to say whether the amps are SS or tube. They just sound natural, musical, and right.

Now that this issue has been settled, I would also suggest that CD has surpassed vinyl....
Again, this concept is missing the point. A system should not sound like tubes or sound like solid state. It should sound like realistic and natural music. If you think something is tube-ish or solid state-ish, then you are not there. The amp needs to disappear.

If the question is whether a SS amp, in the proper SYSTEM, can sound musical and real, then the answer is an unequivocal yes. Ditto for tubes. If you are asking whether it is easier to accomplish this with a tube amp, then maybe. Perhaps that is why people come back to tubes - it is a bit easier to get it right the first time.
Are we going to debate whether tube gear is reliable?

Well, I'm always willing to root for the underdog...

But, people don't buy tube gear for the dependability. And people don't switch to solid state because tubes are too reliability.
Dev,

There is a profound lack of criticism in audio, which is even more extra-ordinary considering the prices. I will not comment on Spectron, not having heard it, and not having an interest in hearing it.

Of course, your perception is not valid because of issues related to burn-in, cabling, speaker matching, component matching, music selection, or speaker positioning. Take your pick. And even if you went through all these items, in your own home, for every piece in the world and decided you didn't like it... Still, someone, somewhere, in some system might find it heavenly. Ergo, any piece of audio, once constructed, is infallible.

I wish people would come out sometimes and say, "It sucks". That would make this hobby much more simple.
BB, Good point. Perhaps I was being a bit melodramatic. I would like to see something more like: It does A, B, C. But it does not do X, Y, Z.