Why did you lean one way or the other

@mapman

Re: moving stuff!  The weight of big power transformers + OPTs can be insane at 81 years old.  But my SET TU-8900S is half the weight of the Pass Labs XA25.

I find it interesting that more hybrid leaning systems are tube pre + SS power, I do not have a "modern" tube pre to try this with - at least one that I can lift.  There is a CAT SL 1 Mk II sitting in a box, just needing a pair of 12AU7s, but my back could not allow me to try to lift it!

The "keep it pure" up front then roll tubes to color the sound in the power amp seems to work.

Why did you lean one way or the other?

l never have as never delved into anything else.

l asked a friend of mine, an old farmer why he always leaned to his right, was it an old farming injury, a hip or knee wearing out?

He replied, “No, l have one leg longer than the other”

A similar experience happened in the shop l managed when said farmer came in one day, noticed another guy leaning to the right beside him as he walked up to the check out. The farmer said, “Have you got the same problem l have?”  The other guy looking surprised said, “Oh!”…. “Have you got a wooden leg too?”

I've tried tubes but eventually went back to SS. Easier, low maintenance and they don't take forever to warm-up. My class A sounds just as good to my ears. 

Warm up and maintanence is component dependent. My current tube system requires no warm up and only requires a tube change every 3,000 hours. So it is somewhat a question of your definition of how much is too much. 

The only reason I mention this is because I was put off by this reputation... but did not understand in absolute terms what this meant.  

I started with SS integrated revceivers, then went to SS A/B separates, always upgrading for more power and headroom.  Finally, went to tube monoblocks with tube preamp and that gave me the sweet sound and full bass I love.  I have learned to build my system from the ear back...  So, first is speakers, then amps, then preamp, then source.  Cables in the same order.  This will insure that you start with a sound you like, and it should only gets better as you progress towards the source material.  The closer in order the component is to your ear, the more you should not compromise on it...  So, speakers should always be the number one investment, then, amps to match the speaker, and so forth.