SET Lovers, what's the one solid state amp you love(d)?

No more SET here, all push-pull pentode now, yet I enjoy my American made full Class-A 50w upgraded Pass/Forte’ Audio amplifier on rotation once in a while. Fed by a 6SN7 triode tube preamp. When I play it, I’m not in a hurry to go back to my tube amps.

@atmasphere I replaced my tube amps with a class D amp and no downside in my system- its just as smooth and revealing as the tubes were- no harshness or brightness and good bass impact. I’m really convinced that tube power amplifiers are on life support; why have one when you can have an amp that sounds better in every way and not have to deal with tube issues??

Based on questions from friends, many still rotating and hoarding tube amps and tubes - I’m still seeing some success with simple tube amplifiers paired non-exotic output tubes. The tube amps with less expensive and available opt tubes I mean.

In your case with exciting class-D amp success, does this somehow suggest you are eventually planning on shutting down your tube amp manufacturing side of the business, i.e. "are on life support"?

@atmasphere Thanks for the note. All makes sense, and as they say, we’ll see how it goes. I’ve been following Class D for the past decade. A few buddies who play guitars switched with a few holdouts still running tube for lead guitars.

On a related note, I remember when the HD Radio tuners came out, people went out and bought them. Folks got fired up, we’d see note’s how the conventional FM radio tuners were dead forever!!! Outta here!, blah blah. HD radio and streaming came to automobiles too. Quite a change for the auto and audio industry. Seemed to make sense in autos for sure. For home use, a few holdouts still liking old FM more. When HD radio came out it seemed like it was still missing something.

While owning both, from time to time I still fire up the conventional Magnum Dynalab FM radio tuner. And what’s odd is how conventional FM radio still sounds as wonderful as ever. There are times I actually prefer its sound over today’s streaming for a different type of listening. Reminds me of tube amps and what is at question here.

Also watching closely how people some buy the latest generation of Class D from AGD, NAD, Atma, and others claiming its "there" now, and then how many of those same folks put them up for sale and return to Tube based amps again a year or two later. Very interesting to see how this continues to unfold next 2-5 years.Got the mono block tube amps playing great music and close to 3D type sound as I type this now.

Hey, maybe if everyone else goes Class D, there will be a glutt of tube amps and supply of tubes out there for the rest of us diehard holdouts to pick up for a great price. Wishful thinking maybe, and looking forward to it either way, good times! :)