Interesting... I am with Dekay on this issue. But, we each have our listening priorities that will impact what we perceive as sounding more "real." For me, accurate reproduction of timbre and harmonic overtones are critical issues, particularly on strings and voice. With these priorities, I find a reasonably good tube amp almost always preferable given some consideration to matching the amp to the speaker it is being asked to drive. The design of the amp or type of output tube used will not give you a clear-cut guide to tube amp selection. The execution is more important than "type".
If your point of reference has been solid-state, you may need to attune your listening for some of the strengths tubes provide (midrange reproduction, timbre, overtone structure, soundstage reproduction...) and then begin evaluating whether those strengths match your priorities. I find that the mental shift in perspective is somewhat analogous to shifting between digital and analog sources. One sometimes has to re-shift one's perspective.
As to which brands/models of tube amplifiers to consider, again I would have to come back to listening priorities. For example, I have always found that conrad-johnson equipment better matches my priorities than does ARC equipment, others are just the reverse. Perhaps some posters can offer specific suggestions if you can share more about your sonic priorities and your speakers.
If your point of reference has been solid-state, you may need to attune your listening for some of the strengths tubes provide (midrange reproduction, timbre, overtone structure, soundstage reproduction...) and then begin evaluating whether those strengths match your priorities. I find that the mental shift in perspective is somewhat analogous to shifting between digital and analog sources. One sometimes has to re-shift one's perspective.
As to which brands/models of tube amplifiers to consider, again I would have to come back to listening priorities. For example, I have always found that conrad-johnson equipment better matches my priorities than does ARC equipment, others are just the reverse. Perhaps some posters can offer specific suggestions if you can share more about your sonic priorities and your speakers.