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.
Why did you lean one way or the other
Without judgement towards me, or from me, what did you find more enjoyable, going from tubes to solid state, and/or from solid state to tubes? My posts here have stated my reasons for going in a particular direction. What say you? Please, if you want to participate in this discussion, let's all be civil, mature, and realize, we all have a musical "taste" we are after, and because of this, there is no right or wrong, except for yourself.
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Just to chime in, my journey is simple. I have been an audio guy for sixty years (hey, everyone needs a hobby), and finally gave in to all the hype about tubes. I first bought a tube preamp. That helped! I have used a solid-state amp (Classe Audio DR15) since the 1990s, but saw a pair of Manley Mahis for sale shortly after reading the glowing review in Stereophile. They were right, there was a huge difference, especially with vinyl. So, now I listen to mostly vinyl despite the large price difference vs. CDs. My speakers are Sonus Faber Electa Amators. My listening room is small, so I listen in triode mode as it’s all I need to get the sound I prefer. I only wish I had made the leap earlier! |
THe problem with the best tube amps out there is that the people who still mostly might want them can’t even lift them anymore. Or lift the speakers needed to perform with well with smaller tube amps (even worse). It’s like 80-year-old + technology at this point that is still going. Compared to modern technology, which is cheaper, lighter, smaller and in general outperforms the old technology. That’s how technology works. It gets better over time! Kudos to tube amp vendors like @atmasphere who experiences this stuff firsthand, didn’t let sentiment for the past cloud judgement, and took action to offer competitive alternative products using the latest and greatest technology. Smart man! Having said that I still think tubes are very cool looking devices which helps keep them going. But for how long? Plus most tubes and materials used to make them are imported and will cost even more with tariffs moving forward. FBOFW. |
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