As you've no doubt discerned from the above posts, it's all relative.
I've been in this hobby for over 45 years. My $0.02 is that it is easier to build good sounding solid state components AT A CHEAPER PRICE POINT (e.g. sub $1,000) than it is tubed.
Which explains the popularity of Schitt products. They deliver tremendous value at their price point.
I used to have Martin Logan Spires (recently replaced with Coherent Audio GR 12's, which are 96dB). I have both solid state and tube monoblocks. They are fed with a Don Sachs 6NS7 tube preamp.
My s/s monoblocks put out 900W into 4Ω. My tube monoblocks output 75W.
The tube amps lack the punch of the solid state but sound more musical on instrumental recordings. Tube rolling becomes more complicated/exciting when combining both tubed pre and amps in your system.
If your speakers like big power (like Martin Logan's), then a solid state amp is a 'better bang for your buck' than tubes.
YMMV.
I've been in this hobby for over 45 years. My $0.02 is that it is easier to build good sounding solid state components AT A CHEAPER PRICE POINT (e.g. sub $1,000) than it is tubed.
Which explains the popularity of Schitt products. They deliver tremendous value at their price point.
I used to have Martin Logan Spires (recently replaced with Coherent Audio GR 12's, which are 96dB). I have both solid state and tube monoblocks. They are fed with a Don Sachs 6NS7 tube preamp.
My s/s monoblocks put out 900W into 4Ω. My tube monoblocks output 75W.
The tube amps lack the punch of the solid state but sound more musical on instrumental recordings. Tube rolling becomes more complicated/exciting when combining both tubed pre and amps in your system.
If your speakers like big power (like Martin Logan's), then a solid state amp is a 'better bang for your buck' than tubes.
YMMV.