I know that this question has had endless debate over the years and that there is also alot of 'Hybrid Equipment' which makes it hard to neatly categorize. Also, at what price points are we talking about?
But those things aside, if you had to make the choice starting from scratch in 2009, which way would you go?? Tubes or Solid State??
If speakers rule and amps serve, then tube amps just serve better.
Many different systems in different rooms at different price points all make me want to listen to more music. They all have tube amps in them.
Some ss amp systems let me hear lots of detail, but it's the rare system w/ ss amp that makes me want to stay and listen to more music. Cheers, Spencer
RJA, you have a point there, tubes and SS designs both can yield opposite stereotypicaal behavior that I am not partial to. . . on the other hand, some devices transcend the most common idiosyncrasies of their class, and just deliver. . . music in a way that I can relate to.
Great tube amps can be very captivating...can SS be that way?? Yes but in a different way...greater transparency...but not as rich in harmonics and less ambient retreival...but the transparency and resolution are something I'm hooked on. Go listen and make a choice...I have both tubes and SS and enjoy both.
For me, it's tubes. Like Nillthepill, personally, I've never heard a system with a solid state amplifier that would cause me to throw the box away.
Of course, the statements about loudspeakers are most salient, but the speakers that I would put money down on (apart maybe trying the Apogees), would more or less invariably be tube friendly. Speakers, and the speaker - room interface always comes first, but as Manley says, "tubes rule."
I will not be PC. Tubes give better overall realistic sound. I feel that I have 'wasted' many years sticking with high power (400+ watts) SS amps, recently the highly regarded MBL 9008A's. Now the 60-90 Watt tube amps produces that sounds more powerful and fuller sounding than the 400 watt behemoths i used over the years Of course, I have auditioned some exceptional tube sounding SS amps, but they are still not completely like tubes. Have not heard the DarT yet.
I would certainly vote for tubes - better imaging, more accurate instrumental timbres, better realization of the sound of the human voice, to name just three good reasons.
Since I first tried a tube preamp, I'd always been "afraid" to try a tube amp because of heat and problems I read about with tube amps.
A few weeks ago I got a new tube amp and wish I'd done it earlier. I went with one (BAT), that I'm hoping is pretty much 'plug and play', as there is no biasing to do.
If anyone was like me, you owe it to yourself to try a tube amp. This is a whole new world and I guess time will tell if there are any maintenance issues.
I live in a hot summer climate and think I might switch things out to a SS integrated for those months.. but regarding your question, if starting from scratch, I'd go tubes.
Both rule. Depends on many variables. If I had to start over in '09, I'd go with something for a few hundred bucks. I've decided I'm done spending alot of money for a little improvement. When one of the units fails, I believe I'll start in that direction.
I find it hard to believe one rules over the other when most of my favorite experiences where hybrid systems of both tubes and solid state, and as other noted its all system and personal preference dependent so this cant be answered.....only argued.
Uhrn.. . I suspect I have a hard time bowing to anyone just because of their birthright, and glass vials may be no exception. Perhaps that is part of my problematic unserious attitude to music. G.
In England, and other constitutional monarchies, the King Reigns, but does not Rule. Tubes are the aristocracy of audio. They reign. We bow to them. But transistors rule.
12-06-08: Vegasears Most tube amps require lots of maintenance. SS amp are on/off and dust them off.
I guess I would disagree with both of these sentences. Tube amps do not require lots of maintenance, and IMHO, SS amps are ON 24/7 (unless I'm gone for several days or weeks).
If you had to start from scratch the potential would be vast. I've always come back to tubes myself, but sure have enjoyed SS along the way. As others have already pointed out, you can get great sound either way if you do it right. For now I'm sticking with tubes, but am always open to hearing something different.
"One's choice is dependent on correct amplifier/speaker match, and on personal listening priorities." Most tube amps require lots of maintenance. SS amp are on/off and dust them off.
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