I started with all tubes from cd player to amp. I called solid state SS amps I was so unenamored with them. When I got some decidedly inefficient speakers, I started looking for a replacement. Powerful tube amps are so expensive. A friend who builds his own class A amps told me not to think twice and buy the Pass Labs X150 and a Pass Labs Aleph P if I couldn't afford their current X pre amps. Being tubular, I went only part way. I decided to keep tubes in the cd player and pre amp and bought a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 to go with the Pass X150. Overall, I was happy with the system, except the mids were a bit chalky. Of course I immediately held the SS amp guilty. My amp builder friend told me not so, it had to be the pre amp and I should get the Aleph P. So I did. He was right on all the way. When I was running all tubes, I loved the liquid mids, and shimmering highs. I also enjoyed the well articulated bass. What I didn't like was the back ground sweetened broth that held the music fast to the speakers. I thought, I just wanted the realness of tubes, but for it to jump out naked at me from darkness. Now with the tubed cd player, and Pass X150 and Pass Aleph P that is exactly what I have.
Moral: If you know someone out there that is a wizened audiophile, listen to him/her, it will save you big bucks.
Moral: If you know someone out there that is a wizened audiophile, listen to him/her, it will save you big bucks.