Why do Tube Amps sound more romantic v SS amps

@aseaman007

What is better to own cost wise sound advantage single ended and push pull ?

Did anyone answer this part of your question? I may have missed it, I am basically blind in one eye, and I do miss things.

My understanding of electronic theory is limited, but I believe that push-pull is a more efficient way to make power, and therefore, if all else is equal, push-pull watts are cheaper than SET watts. But I am personally NOT saying one is better than the other.

I have a friend that says his pair of (SET) Cary 805s are the best thing since white bread. If you have some spare time, put those in as a search engine and see what comes up. You could also read what Dennis Had has to say about his SET (I think I remember that they are called "Inspire") amps. In a nutshell, he claims that with the right speaker (a fairly efficient one) they literally breathe.

On the other hand, about 25 years ago I was buying some tubes (over the phone) from Andy at Vintage tubes, and I engaged him in a conversation comparing the two (SET & push pull) and he was telling me about what 200 watts of "pure class A" push-pull sounded like, and I believe I remember he used the term "liquid fire" in an orgasmic tone of voice.

As for my own experience, I have owned three tube amps & they have all been push-pull. They have, at various times, all performed magic for me. But magic is a subjective & relative term, and remember that I specified "for me."

On edit: and I don’t think "romantic" was necessarily a bad modifier for you to use. "Romantic" is in the ears and eyes of the beholder. When I sit down with a glass of wine or harder liquor or even a beer to enjoy the sound of 23 vacuum tubes, that is about as close as I get to romance these days.

Tubes are kind of like living beings.

You put them in when they are brand new, the early spring of their life,  and they are stiff and awkward.

As they get some hours on them they start to breathe and take on more life.

As they begin to mature, you realize, "Hey, these things have some legs under them!"

When they are in the summer of their life, they hit their prime, their stride, and they exude a magnificent and glorious sonic presence.

As they begin into the early autumn of their life, their beauty compares to that of a day in October; the sun sets earlier but it still has a warm glow in the afternoon, and that is accentuated by the red and gold leaves drifting down.  It's beautiful, but it will be over. 

Late fall turns to winter and it is time to perform euthanasia and then contact an adoption agency.

Anyway, I like my vacuum tube components but they may not be for everyone.  I can respect that also.

Thank you, @xcool  , I must have been feeling romantic at the time.