Describe ube sound vs solid state

Mapman gets it...I think it's an interesting part of hifi dialog that great tube amps are often described as having "SS like grip on the bass," and SS amps will be described as having "tube-like warmth and harmonic content" or some such thing. I personally prefer a tube power amp for the tube specific harmonic content driven tone AND because I like messing with tubes, but the point of all this is great sounding music and luckily you can find it in either design camp.

This thread seems to ignore the fact that tube amps are more fun. There is no question that good SS amps can, and do, sound fine or often great, but comparisons aside, you generally don't "Transistor Roll" to effect some tonal change because you feel like it...many don't feel like it anyway, and should stick to SS amps...my enjoyment of tube hifi is partly due to the fact that I can see the glow and mess with it for fun...although recent tube purchases are of tubes that don't glow as visibly so there's that, but I still have Mullard Flash for entertainment. SS amps just sit there doing their job invisibly, and except for meters (Pass...good idea) there's no tactile sign of life. Also, I think you can get to some great tone for less cash quicker with a good tube amp, but then I like fun.

The best thing about Pass amps is the meter, and I've found they sound fine mostly...I like the "first watt" philosophy as really the tonal qualities are all that matter and it's up to you to decide how much horsepower you need. Pass is one of those companies that says something like "sounds close to tubes" often and makes me even more of a tube head...I also recently installed a pair of Gold Lion 12Ax7s in my amp and they're great, along with KT150s to add a "hot pickle" vibe. Fun...

I bought Gold Lion 12AX7 reissues from "thetubestore" with matched
and balanced sections for a fraction of whatever dealers want for exotica like the
Mullard 10ms, and they are simply great sounding 12AX7s for my tastes
anyway...I like NOS Mullards of course, and have a pair 6201s on their way from
Upscale as I was smitten by their price and gold pins (my trusty 4024s are still
fine and will be given a rest). I think that the success of New Sensor with their
KT120s and 150s, Gold Lion reissues, "Mullards," (my Burriss class A
guitar amp uses, as stock, Mullard reissue 12AX7s as the designer loves those
things), and other stuff is an interesting success story and unique in tube-
ville...I've never had one blow up (yet) and considering the volume of stuff they
crank out they seem to be making some great AFFORDABLE glass items, and I
hope they continue.

Tube amps are more fun...that's the important difference.

I run sound for live jazz shows (recently Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo...check out THOSE guys) and am often baffled by any discussion regarding "live vs. recorded" sound. I have a piano in my hifi room...have played music professionally for 45 years or something, and have a stupid (!) amount of experience in this area. The following is true: Live sound quality is venue specific, you better be sitting real close if musicians are unamplified, and if it is amplified and you don't like the sound, it could be my fault. Clearly there are things making great sounding live sound events valuable, like YOU'RE THERE at an event, musicians might getting paid something (in the case of the shows I do, paid very well) which is rare these days, and it might be fun. If these things don't appeal to you, stay home. I think a great hifi is exactly that, and clearly recorded, mixed, and produced things are fun although not live, and so what? I just bought a new LP of Beggars Banquet at Barnes and Noble (new thing...vinyl at B&N!)...no explanation of why I have always loved this album, but I do, and the Stones NEVER sounded like this live...an LP on clear vinyl for 23 bucks that sounds great...what's not to like?

HA...I didn't really know much about these guys before booking the gig, and I really enjoyed 'em...small world indeed.