@jimbennet From you post where you warm up to the sound of a vintage low power Onkyo, you prefer vintage tube sound - warm, cozy, comfortable, thick, and laden with background noise - which is how the solid state Onkyo, and many other vintage solid state designs sound. However, these vintage solid state products fall short in the reproducing the seductive midrange bloom and image dimensionality of vintage tubes. I have a vintage rig in a vacation home so know and love the sound when there. However, there is a difference between vintage tube sound and modern tube designs. Modern tube designs have made notable improvements in reducing tube background noise, providing clarity and detail, while maintaining that seductive midrange bloom and dimensionality. Compare a vintage AR design to their wonderful modern designs currently offered to understand my point. So if you prefer vintage tube sound, stay with a vintage Class A amplifier to approximate the warmth you seek. If you like modern tube sound, go with one of the following:
AR S100 or 200; Burmester; Humboldt; Griffin
These will provide the sweet warmth, bloom (admittedly to a lesser but not significant degree) and dimensionality of tubes with the clarity, transient speed, and dynamics of solid state. Be prepared for sticker shock so research while sitting.