The tubes vs SS discussion should focus more on the type of music one prefers rather than the technical merits of each amp. I have multiple tube and SS amps that I interchange frequently. If you primarily listen to Jazz, voice, acoustic music of any kind there is nothing better than a quality tube amp.
The only time I would caution someone about moving toward tubes is if they primarily / exclusively listen to rock & roll at higher volumes. i don’t feel the benefits of tubes are realized in that case. I prefer listening to that type of R&R music on my SS amps. But that being said, most guitar amps use the EL34 tubes so when I listen to earlier R&R with guitar emphasis they sound more live on my EL34 amp.
The reason tube watts seem louder than SS is not because tube watts are more "powerful" but because you can listen to tube amps louder than SS without as much fatigue. The listenable / enjoyable wattage range of tube amps is greater than an equal SS amp.
I would also recommend an EL34 tube amp as a starter / first tube amp because the EL34 really hits the sweet spot of tubes. If budget is any consideration, you can buy a quality used one very reasonably and latter upgrade to a new tube amp if you find that tubes are for you. That is what I did and got a very good price on a Cary V12R EL34 amp and then latter bought a new tube amp. I still own the V12R and enjoy it daily.
I have two listening systems one with difficult to drive speakers. I bi-amp them both with a tube amp on top and a SS amp on the bottom pushing the woofers. This works very well with difficult speakers that demand more power.
The only time I would caution someone about moving toward tubes is if they primarily / exclusively listen to rock & roll at higher volumes. i don’t feel the benefits of tubes are realized in that case. I prefer listening to that type of R&R music on my SS amps. But that being said, most guitar amps use the EL34 tubes so when I listen to earlier R&R with guitar emphasis they sound more live on my EL34 amp.
The reason tube watts seem louder than SS is not because tube watts are more "powerful" but because you can listen to tube amps louder than SS without as much fatigue. The listenable / enjoyable wattage range of tube amps is greater than an equal SS amp.
I would also recommend an EL34 tube amp as a starter / first tube amp because the EL34 really hits the sweet spot of tubes. If budget is any consideration, you can buy a quality used one very reasonably and latter upgrade to a new tube amp if you find that tubes are for you. That is what I did and got a very good price on a Cary V12R EL34 amp and then latter bought a new tube amp. I still own the V12R and enjoy it daily.
I have two listening systems one with difficult to drive speakers. I bi-amp them both with a tube amp on top and a SS amp on the bottom pushing the woofers. This works very well with difficult speakers that demand more power.