Tubes vs. solid state.

It depends what tube gear is being compared to what solid state products. There are good and bad products in both camps. Generally I lean towards tubes in the preamp with a solid state amp but to each his own.

Anyway I think that all of us on this thread have been booby-trapped from time to time and whats even better, they usually come in matched pairs.

I want to suggest that solid state has become so good that it really makes little sense to use tubes. There are solid state products out there right now that rival tubes but improve on areas that tube gear can seldom handle. On the other side of the coin the only thing modern tube gear is now doing is sounding like really good solid state, definately not your warm and fuzzy sound of a day gone by. I still like both but it is important to mention that your choice may be based on what type of music you normally listen to. I like tube preamps but I have had solid state preamps that make you question things.

Cooljazzcat, thankyou for your opinion. I like some of Audio Research solid state amps like the 100.2. Also like Conrad Johnson solid state, makes you wonder why go the tube route. The McCormacks with Revision A, very trasparent and grain free. Aleph class A products, very sweet sound. Currently using a PS Audio upgraded HCA-2, wonderful midbass and detail, superb low end. I was thinking of hooking up with the solid state Bel Canto Pre 1 or 2. Or maybe the PS Audio PCA-2 with external power supply, a great match with my HCA-2. Too many products to list but great products for the price. I like to leave my system on all the time for background music, can't do that with tubes. I wonder if digital switching amps create a new category of their own.

Currently running the latest incarnation of a VTL tube preamp with the upgraded HCA-2, spectacular full sound but have to turn the tube pre off when not in use. The VTl pre really brings out the best qualities that garnered the HCA-2 its stereophile class A status.

I can definately understand why you wept when you heard your first tube integrated, if I was there I would of wept with you and would of even brought a box of Kleenex.

I think Paulfolbrecht elequent response was very intelligent & thorough pointing out some differences between ss & tubes. I hope you people live forever, will not criticize anyones choices because there are so many differences in room accopustics, components and speakers that are unique to ones system, makes it difficult to make an accurate call on recommendations in regards to ss & tube.

Cooljazzcat, if I think solid state is better, is just a matter of opinion, certainly not attempt to critizise. I did mention that I like both ss and tube. Keep in mind my music tastes vary from softer music to hard rock. My current preamp is tube but prefer an all solid state system because there are some good ss products plus I want to leave it powered up most of the time. I know I would really enjoy your all tube system if I could give it a listen.

I was curious if you ever been concerned about a shortage of tubes and/or even good quality tubes since some good sources/factories have been shut down. Also I read that some sellers of tubes on the internet don't know they are really selling an inferior product because the original manfacturer logo has been wiped out and restamped with a new more respectable manufacturer. Thanks for your time.