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For anyone who moved from tubes to solid state — a question

I'm the happy owner of a fairly new tube preamp and monoblock amps. I love it and have bought new tubes. To have another option for warmer weather or possibly a second listening room, I got a very good solid state integrated. I've run the tube preamp with the solid state amp and it sounds quite nice. I love all tubes, too.

But this question is for you. Please forget the convenience factor for a moment, including the issue of tube replacement etc. Also, forget about those cases where you bought new speakers and needed more power, etc.

Assuming you had quality tube gear with sufficient power — here's the question if you abandoned tubes for SONIC reasons:

What what is that tubes couldn't give you?
What did your solid state gear do for you which was so much better that you divorced to marry anew?

I'm curious about what people list as the positive sonic reasons they love solid state (including A, AB, D, etc.).

Thanks.
128x128hilde45

Showing 12 responses by hilde45

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
Can't correct it now, but I meant that my OP did NOT use the trigger words.

One thing this forum has taught me is that there are many paths to the top of the mountain (of good sound)  -- and *also* that there are different mountains!

Let 1000 flowers bloom.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
I think we've reached the logical end of this topic, regarding the big picture.

We have these two recent statements:

best of breed tube and solid state are very close now, and ever converging

And the opposite claim:
Tubes and SS are a different paradigm. They approach producing music from different perspectives. My understanding is that tubes are a more visceral experience and SS more intellectual.

Be that as it may, I'm still interested in what someone specifically gave up in order to gain with SS. With as many variables controlled as possible. But maybe this well is run dry.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@krelldreams Thanks for sharing. You say you went "back to tubes" but the main amp you mention is a hybrid, no?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
Luckily, my tube amps are in a basement space that's always cool. Even when it was 100 degrees outside, things were fine. I agree with the issue of not warming up a room, though. If I was upstairs, I think a solid state would be a good backup for those warm summer months. At least for the power amps.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@stereo5  Thanks. I expect a lot of comments about bass. If you can recall that far back, was there something positive and different about what the SS offered you in midrange, treble, transients, dynamics, etc.?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@oldhvymec

I don't use valve power amp below 300, only SS. 300 and above is Valve

Not sure I understand. You don't use valves/tubes *below* 300 wpc? Only *above* 300 wpc is valves/tubes? I would have thought it was the opposite.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@atmasphere
I always learn from your posts! As I mention to three_easy below, I'm hoping for folks to compare:

well matched amplification and speaker -- with TUBES
vs.
well matched amplification and speaker -- with SOLID STATE

If other factors are responsible for a sonic difference, then I do not have an answer to my question.

@three_easypayments said:
So I don’t think bright lines can always be applied comparing SS to tube amps - it’s about component matching.

Right -- this is not that question or inquiry. That question leads to interminable debates about "tubes vs. solid state."

My question is very specific, and it’s intended for anyone who has kept all of the variables the same except for a change of either or both tube preamp/amp to solid state for sonic reasons.

Perhaps this question is so specific it doesn’t really open a door to that many people, but given how much people swap things in and out of their systems, I thought maybe someone had had this experience.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@ditusa
Maybe you are right. I wasn’t sure if it was a question that even could be answered but I know that audiophiles are the kinds of people who compare things quite often and frequently try to keep track of the variables.
If this is an impossible comparison then knowing that is a positive piece of knowledge that I am open to, but it seems like lots of people here have some experience of comparison that they think is relevant.

Even an imperfect comparison gives some information -- unless, as you are contending, there are too many variables to learn anything from the comparison. it seems like you are asserting that no one can truly claim to know anything with confidence in their comparisons.

I’m agnostic about what other people think they know.


hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
@ditusa I think we're on the same page. I'm looking for an account of people's experiences under conditions they believe are reasonably controlling of variables which could preclude a fair comparison. If people are reporting their experiences accurately, well, that is fact. It is a subjective fact of experience, a report. Not fiction, not imagination, not speculation.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
Thanks for the further comments. I have bookshelves and a good sub, but the crossover idea is really appealing. More to learn...


hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
It's fun to hear so many views and experiences. It's clear that it's not possible to avoid a "this OR that" conversation when it comes to tubes and solid state. That's fine -- Audiogon threads are more frequently like pub conversations than anything else, and that's fun.

Still, I'm glad that my OP use the trigger words "made in China" or there would have been a second sinkhole in the thread! Cheers!
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,838 posts
 
Having a SS amp as a backup puts the convenience back for me. 
More to discover