SS Substitute for Tube Integrated?

Musical Fidelity M5si, fits the bill. 

I was loaned a Moon by Simaudio 240i SS integrated amp this past fall - I think it's closer to $3k new.  However, I was shocked at how good amp was and prior to it I was using a McIntosh MC 302.   I'd also explore Rogue integrated - they seem to be an excellent value too!

Good luck and enjoy the music.

I’m sorry, I don’t understand the issue. If you own a great integrated ( I own one also). What is the problem. After 50 years in audio, I assure you I am not going back to solid state… the musicality of well designed tube equipment is amazing. So, you care about the tubes? Buy an extra set.  Failure? Buy a superior american brand like Rouge or Audio Research if that ever fails. I don’t see a problem. 

Look at a Schiit Ragnarok SS integrated amp.

 

https://www.schiit.com/products/ragnarok-1

@ghdprentice

The problem is with intermittent income and ramifications thereof that are myriad and complicated.  $200/yr. for vacuum tubes is doable for me.  Much more than that and I’ve no choice but to go back to the lower-maintenance alternative.

Under the radar, quite good and yes I own one, the ATC CA2 SS preamp. New it's $3200 so used probably 2.4K. It's very musical and really fast.

What are you spending $200.00 a year on tubes?

Look at a hybrid like Vincent. 

Wondering now if any tubes at all are going to be available in the short-to-medium term and…..well, who knows.  This morning my go to EL 34s we’re looking more expensive by the hour seemingly.  Tonite, my go to supplier appears to be out of ALL EL 34 tubes…. 

I don't understand either. Even SS amps made in the USA have parts from other countries. I'm bummed about the availability of Russian tubes too,but other brands are readily available.

We’re going to go through a period of panic, hoarding, and price gouging on power tubes. We’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things look after the dust settles. Personally I won’t be running my Apollo Darks on a "hot" bias setting anymore lol. They’re actually pretty easy on tubes at the normal setting, but of course they use a dozen KT120 at a time :( My VAC 200iQs use an octet, but actually seem to eat through those side getters faster than the Rogues do.

For those who didn’t see the news today, Russia announced a retaliatory export ban on goods including all the New Sensor tubes. It’s set to last until end of 2022, but of course no guarantees things will go back to normal after that. China and JJ tube production is also still a big question mark at this point, for different reasons.

This is a big moment in our hobby. And not a good one :(
Will people panic and ditch their tube amps? The issue is owning an expensive amp with power tubes that are increasingly hard to replace. Maybe that makes for some good opportunities to buy. And how much will this hurt our boutique tube amp makers? If they have a large tube stash, they may have to provide tube replacement guarantees in order to convince wary new buyers. 

@lg1 ,  You may want to consider an Ayre Acoustics AX-7E integrated.  Used market prices around $1500 - $1700.   They're bulletproof, have stable valuations, and are among most "tube-like" of SS that I've heard in this price range.

Luxman L-590axii. When it comes to replacing tubes, this integrated is it!

Glad you brought this up. I always have an xtra set of tubes for all my equipment. But my amps use KT 150… so I bought an extra quad… I am sure alternative sources will come on line at some point. Tubes tend to last a very long time. But better safe than sorry.

Words of wisdom: "I always have an xtra set of tubes for all my equipment"

SS for tube integ. Many good SS integ. out there. Consider this, you change to a SS integrated and you may not like its pairing with the speakers you have.

I listened to a Heed Obelisk integrated (maybe 10 years ago) and really liked it.

Not familiar with the contemporary version, but may be worth checking out.

The vocals (older model) were similar to that of my DH/SET amps.

 

DeKay