Interesting comment about preferring solid state with the SP1/2Es. I had the opposite experience and have read many others find the same.
I was using a Bel Canto S300 solid state (150 watts/ch) with the Spendor S8es and preferred it to the Conrad Johnson tube amp I had previously. However, when I moved on to SP1/2Es, I found I preferred a tube amp (an Image 65i at 50 watts/ch).
However, there may be some issue with how loud one listens, the music involved, and what parameters a person finds significant when listening.
So it will always be one of those YMMV things.
I was using a Bel Canto S300 solid state (150 watts/ch) with the Spendor S8es and preferred it to the Conrad Johnson tube amp I had previously. However, when I moved on to SP1/2Es, I found I preferred a tube amp (an Image 65i at 50 watts/ch).
However, there may be some issue with how loud one listens, the music involved, and what parameters a person finds significant when listening.
So it will always be one of those YMMV things.