I have to come to the defense of tubes here. Yes, perhaps tubes cannot reproduce the whole spectrum as accurately as transistors. And, I will even concede that tubes may or may not add harmonics that were not in the original signal.
HOWEVER, there are things that tubes do that sound more like real, live music than transistors. It is true that the gap has narrowed and there are great transistor pieces out there. I should know as I have owned both tube amps and solid state simultaneously.
To my ears and inclinations, it is not as important that tubes may slightly shift the frequency balance or enrich the harmonics of the signal, as it is that they make MUSIC more convincingly, and they sound more pleasant to listen to. There is less listening fatigue with tube gear in general compared to transistor. While the gentleman above is entitled to his opinion, likewise, we who enjoy what tubes have to offer are entitled to an equal respect from transistor-philes.
HOWEVER, there are things that tubes do that sound more like real, live music than transistors. It is true that the gap has narrowed and there are great transistor pieces out there. I should know as I have owned both tube amps and solid state simultaneously.
To my ears and inclinations, it is not as important that tubes may slightly shift the frequency balance or enrich the harmonics of the signal, as it is that they make MUSIC more convincingly, and they sound more pleasant to listen to. There is less listening fatigue with tube gear in general compared to transistor. While the gentleman above is entitled to his opinion, likewise, we who enjoy what tubes have to offer are entitled to an equal respect from transistor-philes.