how close in sound can a tube and ss amp sound ?


i have observed threads requesting advice regarding tube sounding solid state amps, within a price point.

i wonder how to confirm such a request.

in addition to recommendations, what about comparing a particular ss amp to a particular tube amp using an experimental design where bias, or preconception has been eliminated ?

has anyone tested the hypothesis that he/she cannot detect the difference between a tube and a ss amp, within the same power range, price point and minimizing interaction problems, such as impedeance mismatches ?

on the other hand if someone is seeking a tube-like sound out of a solid state amp, i would assume that one would use a "classic" sounding tube amp, e.g., cj mv 45, cj 75, cj 100, or cj mv125 as the tube amp and try to find a ss amp that is indistinguishable from the sound of the classic tube amp.

i have found that many ss amps differ with respect to bass and treble response from many tube amps.

in my own case, i would love to find a 120 watt ss amp which sounds like my vtl tube amp. unfortunately, i am not optimistic.

in other threads, some people have stated that it is impossible to find a ss amp that is "tube-like", in the classic sense.
mrtennis
Every time I mention this "phenomenon", someone tells me that P = E X I. My 75 watt monoblocks never went to electronics school and they don't know that they are not supposed to kick the crap out of my 150 watt channel SS amp.
To sum it up, for me, the best tube amps I have heard are the ones that sound more like SS and the best SS amps are the ones that sound more like tubes.

Luckily there are some companies and products out there of both ilks that do a pretty good job of resolving this dilemma. And there are many others that almost do but manage to retain a unique bias to their sound that also has mass appeal.