Why did you lean one way or the other

I have had almost any possible combination of SS & tube gear over the past 30 years.

In the 90's all tube stuff. Audio Note (UK) 1 and Sonic Frontiers DACs,  CAT SL1 and Audible Illusions Pre, MV52 , VAC 85/85, Ren 30/30 and 70/70 amps.

My first SS device was the Esoteric X-03SE CD player.  In terms of resolution this was an ear opener, there was a level of detail and transient response that the Theta Data & older tubed DACs could not find.  DAC technology was, of course progressing rapidly.

After retiring to VT in 2014 I simplified life to one system only, the VPI Scoutmaster with Koetsu Black,  X-03, CAT SL 1, VAC Ren 30/30, Audio Physic Virgo II.  Everything else was gifted or sold except for the 70/70.

The CAT then started playing up and the repair cost was estimated at a 5 figure sum.  I switched to the Sutherland Duo, and a passive pre amp feeding the 30/30.  So a hybrid setup.

This setup revealed more from the vinyl and digital sources.  The SL 1 sounded wonderful, but, with hindsight it seems it edited the sound.

I then had the opportunity to get an (NOS) Esoteric K-01XS for a great price and gave the X-03 to an impecunious friend.  At about this time I read reviews of the Benchmark LA4 and have used that ever since.  Another level of purity and space to the sound was achieved.

Then the 30/30 started making ugly noises and to this day I have been unable to get VAC to agree to service it, I was also getting tired of retubing every few years and even though I had just installed a quartet of WE 300Bs I installed a Pass Labs XA 25.

I also added an Aurender N100SC digital front end.

Now I am 100% SS, and very happy with the sound.  Somewhere in this saga, I forget when, I had replaced the Virgos with the Atria IIs.

Then I got an email advertising a deal on the (standard) Elekit TU-8900 kit.  Fun, lets have a go.  I had the WE 300Bs so just needed the ECC82s.  

I switched the XA 25 for the SET amp.  Wow, so that is what it's about!

I was clearly giving up on a level of resolution but there was an organic integrity to the sound.

Then I got an offer on a TU-8600 with the Lundahl upgrades.  Another level up, so I decided to upgrade the 8900 with Lundahls and high end coupling caps, and to try 2A3s. This recovered much the resolution and space.

More Wow.  I moved the 8600 to my 2nd system which is DMP A8 digital, TU 8600 amp, Harbeth P3ESRs.  And the upgraded 8900 is now my main amp.  

That amp now has NOS Brimar amp/drivers and RCA Black Plate 2A3s (or, sometimes WE 300Bs).

I have wandered on through my journey but at this time I am finding a hybrid system.  SS up front and an SET Tube power amp gives me the sound quality that I am looking for.

Started with class a/b SS, moved on to class a SS, then to push pull tubes, next to SET. My experience with tubes and reliability is the higher the output the more heat and issues with reliability, heat not good for reliability. I still dabble with ss from time to time, purchased Pass XP22 pre and while it was nice not quite there in my setup. 

As much as this is about tubes vs ss, speaker, amp interface is the final arbiter equipment wise, the right tool for the job. Beyond that its listener preference, I've always enjoyed the added texture and color tubes (2nd order harmonics) bring to the presentation. Also prefer the way tubes sound stage and image, slightly less defined image outlines. 

Having said this, I've heard quite compelling presentations from both tube and ss systems, if I had the funds and room I'd have at least two reference systems, or perhaps three or four or five or whatever. 

They both have their merits, it's great to make your own choices.  If I had another decent room, I'd have one of each.

I prefer the detail of a SS system as well as not having to worry with tube paranoia.  The downside is that it has taken a significant amount of time and trail/error to get my system dialed in.  I prefer to be able to discriminate between good/bad recordings and enjoy hearing detail in tracks I have listened to for years that I never heard before.  Some with expensive tube systems say they prefer it because it makes even bad recordings sound good.  That seems counterintuitive to me but an example of what makes this hobby so interesting.

Another tube-pre SS-power person. There is also a visual part to it. In case of tube and SS gear of equal sound&price, I will lean towards tube for esthetics. I also like the idea of fine tuning sound with tube rolling.