Is there a Solid State amp that can satisfy a SET guy?

Have used SET amps for the last four decades. A SET amp produces a 3d sound to each instrument and the stage which contributes to music sounding real. The SS amps that for me capture much of this is the Pass XA25 and FW SIT3, i was so impressed with the XA25 that i purchased one 2 months ago. They do take about 100-150 hours to sound their best and an initial one hour warm up.

@lewinskih01 The difference between the XA25 and SIT-3 is very hard to put into words but in a nutshell the XA25 has more bass control and weight the overall presentation has a little more authority will a little more defined presentation of the soundstage and instruments. With the SIT-3 there is a sense of tube bloom, both amps have this but it`s more noticeable with the SIT-3. For me it was a give and take what i had always wished a SET could be better at the XA25 brings. Does the XA or SIT-3 sound like a SET amp? With 3D imaging yes but the tube bloom of lets say a 300B tube is not going to be there but you will have traces of that signature and the XA25 and SIT-3 maintain the realism that SET`s are famous for.

Pre-amps have a big impact on how the SIT-3 and XA25 present their sound currently i`m using a LTA as a pre and the combination works really well, i just placed an order with Supratek for a Chardonnay pre, i had heard one of these pre`s about ten years ago and i have never forgotten how great that pre sounded and now they have a gen3 that`s even better from what i have read.

What i listen too is all over the place, classic rock is at the top, then jazz, jam music, progressive rock Porcupine Tree for example then the classics Frank Sinatra ect. and others Sade, Nora Jones and so on.

Hope this helps somewhat.

@annika I`m excited to get the Supratek and pair it with the XA25.

@david_ten My best advise is to forget about specs just go listen to the equipment your interested in first. Let your ears be your guide, knowing specs before hand can influence the brain and what you think your hearing.

I have decades of 211-845 amp use, Audio Note Ongako and Kagura 211 amps, Sophia Electric 845 Mono Blocks and LM 845 amps. If you went by specs alone you would never listen to these amps, sound wise they are some of the best sounding bar none. My personal preference are the 211 tubed amps.

@scothurwitz I purchased a Pass XA25 a couple of months ago and i agree there is some magic (voodoo) going on. Once they get past their burn in time the XA25 took 120 hours there is some magic to be had. When i bought mine it had a ten day trial where i could have sent it back and i almost did a couple of times but once it got beyond the 120 hours it has settled down and has been near perfect and this is coming from a SET guy. The Pass is the best SS amp that i have heard and i have tried many including the latest D amps.

I believe the OP has the AGD Audion's now. I also own the AGD Audion's fantastic amps and i was a SET guy.

steveashe
I just sold my Pass XA25. The AGD Audions are that good and more. The XA25 is no question a very good amp once you get pass about 200hrs. The AGD amps just deliver more goodness i compared the amps side by side for over a month, there was no contest the AGD amp was superior in my opinion and i must say it was not even close. AGD gives a trial period, you won't be sorry once you hear them.

Speakers are Wilson Watt Puppy 5.1, Watt Puppy 6, Wilson XLF and Devore super Nines. Speaker wire AN pure silver 20k for 10ft. Shunyata Omega USB cable to custom built LampaZator DAC to Supratek DHT pre using 45 tubes, Audio Note pure silver IC's to AGD amps.

The inclusion of the AGD amps have taken my system to another level.

I think any good surfer wants to get tubed.