HT Sound quality - tube versus solid state amplification

jumia

your existing or new AVR:

one way to reduce front power needs is to send the low bass to self-powered subs, i.e. keep power needs of front l/r lower, thus easier to use tubes.

IF using self powered sub/subs, fed from AVR, you need to know if in 2 channel mode, preamp front out, is the low bass going to the front or is the low cutout, still going to the sub/s? are they on in 2 channel mode?

new: go for an efficient speaker system so that the option of tubes is easier, and less power/heat is needed for those speakers.

IF efficient front l/r speakers, then you want center/surround of essentially the same sensitivity. then you can refine the output to each speaker individually, in the space

I would not let tube life be a concern, they last a long, long time, many 10,000 hours. 

What I would do, to have confidence in existing and new tubes, is buy an inexpensive tube tester.

Since inheriting a big tube console in 1973, I check mine yearly, just prior to thanksgiving, and keep some spares, think long!!!

I’ve advocated better sound since hot-wiring speaker connections in old CRT's

my main system: tube preamp/tube amp

office: efficient speakers and 10 wpc luxman tube amp (keep tubes but minimum tube heat in small room).

However,

Considering that Video is occupying your senses, and a great deal is dialog, much from the center channel, I would stick with SS, and not too much heat to the cabinet/equipment ...

IF a dual system, video AND used as primary 2 channel for music, then ......

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