Affordable SS that sound like Tubes

I am looking for suggestions on affordable SS that sounds as good as Tubes.

Can you define what that means? What type of sound is that from the affordable tube gear that you’re trying to replicate with affordable SS?

Also, streaming using a Mac Mini sucks. If you haven’t experienced a good streaming setup you’re wasting your money on physical media and downloads. I’m making this statement based on personal experience. 

The mac mini isnt processing anything it is simply a NAS. The streams and or files go through audivana to psaudio dsd to the pre. What about that would suck? Are you saying audivana without any filters sucks, or the DSD Sr. Sucks, or just the mini flow through?. Or just, everything sucks?

And I cant explain to you what a nice tube amp sounds like, you will have to hear one yourself and then come up with a SS pre and amp for no more than $3000 which is what my QS’s cost new that sounds as good as that..

Thank you

T

Is your mac mini connected to the PS Audio DAC or the DAC is fed via Ethernet cable into its network card?

And I cant explain to you what a nice tube amp sounds like, you will have to hear one yourself and then come up with a SS pre and amp for no more than $3000 which is what my QS’s cost new that sounds as good as that..
 

I owned Rogue ST100 tube amp with Rogue RP1 and RP5 preamps - they sounded different with the same amp. I also owned Audio Research tube preamps. And every model sounded different as well.
I have no idea what your set up sounds like though, and apparently, neither do you. I’d be surprised if anyone can make a valid recommendation. You have people shooting in a dark. 

@audphile1 

I removed the network card, sounds better without it. The Mac goes into the DSD via a very nice USB.

Ive gotten some nice suggestions and I'm doing ok.

As to sound, I can say the trope words, Smooth Warm Rich Musical Deep Real Natural....That actually isn't much help I would think?

How can anyone ever explain....sound? Can't be done in reality.

Thanks

T

My example is via headphones. I sold my $7k RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp which was glorious. I replaced that with the $800 Class A Schitt Aegir amp + Benchmark preamp, It was about 90% as good as the VM-1a.

I already had the LA4 preamp for my 2-channel setup, so I leveraged that for both 2-channel and headphones. For some preceptive, my CODA #16 amp on the same headphone setup is about 90% as good as the VM-1a on the phones. That is an amazing compliment for the Aegir to be equally good in this setup.

The Aegir is only 20 watts @ 8 Ohms. For my headphone needs it is spectacular. If I had a very easy to drive speaker, I would want to test it out with the Aegir.

BTW - I think it is impossible for any 2-channel amp to equal the VM-1a. There is an adapter needed for any 2-chanel amp to connect to the RAAL phones and none  is needed for the VM-1a.