ss players vs tube players

Distortion, it's an unexpected and terrific thing the "Most Useless Audio Adjectives" list is taking on a life of its own. A lot of fun for sure.

Now, does the solid state output of my Granite sound tubelike? That is the real question...

Paul, I think "smoother and richer" have to be qualified a bit. We are probably on the same page sonically, but our words are different. Sometimes, I think two audiophiles who seem to diverge in words would come together 100% if they were in the same room. As what they hear is the same, and often the statement is made, "Oh, that's what you meant by BLAH? Yes, I agree, but, I called it FOO."

"Smooth" is the opposite of that variation I previously discussed. While I called it (probably incorrectly, as I pointed out) dynamic range, it's the low - high variation I hear with tubes. Solid state, in most cases, has less of that. I hesitate to call it flat or dull, as that would be a piece with too much of this going on.

"Rich" is where things kind of slow down a bit in terms of pace. The increasingly infamous "Pipe and Slippers Sound" is rich taken up a notch or two. I hear this with electrostatic speakers, again, despite the "conventional wisdom" And, I hear it in a lot of solid state. I often have felt that what is described as "tubelike" by those who praise, and "mosfet haze" by those on the other side of the camp is the way many have tried to put what I'm saying about solid state into words.

Tubes, to me, seem more open and light on their feet.

Intersting thread you've started here, to say the least. Well done!

generally, i prefer a tube analog stage. there is one exception, namely the naim cd x, which sounds less "digital" than any player i have ever heard.

Trelja

According to Granite, the dac used in the player (PCM1710), includes analogue voltage output (op amps). So the signal to the tube stage fed from the dac has already passed through solid state circuitry. Just FYI. When assessing your player the sound is more of the hybrid variety than a true tube player (with the tubes performing ALL voltage gain). The Granite's tube output stage is a 2nd gain stage, acting like a preamp. In fact it IS a preamp with volume control :-)

Audioguy, you are correct! The tube output stage actually IS a preamp.

Nevertheless, obviously, I stand by my tube versus solid state sound description. The 657 reflecting that...