I was a big SS fan and still like SS for some applications. However, when I want to get the best sound possible, I use tube gear. I have had Naim Audio preamps and amps in the past and really loved them for their sound and their ease of use. I still think that they are some of the best SS gear out there. But, when I got my Berning amp and MFA preamp, there was really no contest in sound and the tube gear was really just as hassle free as the SS stuff. Some of you that know me realize that I am a low-power OTL amp and single-driver speaker kind of guy. This gear really hits my hot button for air, detail, and seamlessness. When I went back to analog again, I went with a tube preamp instead of just a separate phono amp so I could select sources more easily and I believe that the MFA preamps have a better phono section than any separate phono stage available for similar money. Now I use an Armstrong receiver for radio and casual listening. It is a very good sounding unit that is little known in America, but has almost the same amp quality of the Naim gear and a tuner section better than the Arcams, and a great phono section to boot. This little receiver will give just about any SS gear a run for the money in sound quality. So yes, I like SS gear, but I love the best tube gear. If I am listening for serious audiophile purposes, you can bet that the little glass bottles will be glowing.
