I have been into high end audio for fifty year and over that time almost always had a Pass designed amp. Most recently the x350. I had tubes in my CD player, preamp, and phono stage. But I hesitated to get an amp with tubes. I liked the idea of absolute reliability.
Then I went to an introduction of the release of the Audio Research Reference 160m about eight years ago. These amps have auto-biasing, and soft turn on... basically eliminating my concerns. I immediately said, when they come out with a stereo version... I am in.
They did. My dealer brought one over for trial. The moment was simply jaw dropping. I had just moved my Pass x350 to the side... intending to swap in and out. Within seconds I knew there would be no swapping... It would never come out.... well, until mine arrived. Then my dealer let me have a pair of Reference 160m mono blocks for two years. But I have been in audio heaven for five or six years now.
If I knew thirty of forty years ago what I know now I would have been running a tube amps from the beginning, and specifically ARC. I am sure the Ref 80s will change your life.
Oh, yes, it will sound different.