Our we Lazy?


I want to start this thread by clearly stating that the purpose of this question was not to fight or rehash the battle of tube vs. solidstate as one being ultimately superior or better than the other one.I hope that besides personnal taste and the different "flavors" listeners enjoy, along with system matching, there is agreement that in the last ten to fifteen years that reference tube and solidstate amps sound very much alike and more like real music. The days of euphonic warm or detailed but harsh-bright sonic signatures are gone when it comes to world class amps.When my audiofile friends and I discuss power amps we always come back to these questions;1}With the finest solidstate amps[Pass Labs,Rowland,Ayre,Edge,etc.]sounding so terrific, why put up with the hassle of re-tubing,getting the right tubes NOS etc.,and the expense of re-tubing on a on going basis?I guess one man's "tube rolling" for pleasure is another man's pain in the butt.2}The sound of a tube amp changes over time as the tubes age, why put up with this hassle when it can be avoided? We like the fact that a solidstate amp will preform at its optimial level everytime we listen to our systems. Please you all, these questions are sincere and not an attack on tube amps or their owners.As stated already the goal was not to fight over something that is obvious ,world class amps are world class amps regardless if there tube or solidstate! We have listened to wonderful sounding tube amps[VTL,LAMM,ARC,CJ,etc.]and thought they were great, however they offered no special virtues that would lead us to put up with what we regard as "hassles" compared with solidstate amps. We would love to hear from our fellow GON members regarding this topic and what has been your experience regarding this topic.Let's not fight but have FUN sharing our opinions and viewpionts on this topic. Remember we might just be "Lazy" audiofiles who rationalize our own position on this matter!
teajay
Chadnliz: I think you misunderstood Ciscomc's comment. He was echoing the use of "Lazy Audiophile" from the comment made in the last sentence by the initiator of this thread.
"50,000,000 tube fans can't be wrong", sorry to plagarize but i love that title & i think it may apply here
I just meant in general, its a bad choice of words, if we all love music, thats what this is all about, I just read too many topics that I feel are insulting to many other people, im not attacking anyone, just in general.
tubes cross over and just sound REAL. even the best solidstate cannot do that. But the best SS can sure get darn close enough. But even in the ultra high-end, price no object, you still have to use tubes to get that last bit.
My main system is SS (Naim Nait 5i and Naim CD5X).

I've recently entered the SET world via the Antique Sound Labs Head MG MK III with Grado 325 gold headphones.

At this level, I certainly appreciate the different flavors in the two cuisines. The SS system certainly has the edge on the PRAT thing and in bass grip and punch, the SETs experience is extra special on that quality of living air around the music, and the resonant quality of a note fading slowly...

Perhaps someday I'll find, and afford, the best of both in one unit; 'til then it's fun going back and forth.