Trade- off, power SS vs tube magic.

"This would be a good time to let people know that you are a dealer."

Not that he needs my help, but I have to throw in with Audiofeil on this one. In addition to the reasons already mentioned, Audiofeil has served as nothing less than Audiogon's most stalwart advocate of dealer disclosure when it make even the slightest sense.

I've been reading these posts thinking that eventually, I'd get a better handle on your question. That's not meant to be a put-down; there are just different ways that I can interpret your question. If I interpret it literally, the answer is easy because when you use the term ""subjective" magic", you're question implies its own answer: everyone will have to decide for themselves. You can't ask for an objective answer to a question with subjective variables.

If I may suggest a question that might serve your purpose and get you a better response, it would be something like: Is there some ineffable quality exclusive to tubes (tube magic)?

Tubes and SS share most audiophile desired virtues to some degree e.g., warmth, soundstage, transparency, detail, dynamics. Each design has it's reputation for providing a mix of those virtues with different relative values. If a designer develops a product with virtues typically associated with the other design, it's called tubelike if it's SS and vice versa. But if there exists an ineffable quality to tubes that some might be sensitive to and others not, that will be the determining factor in the question of whether or not solid state can replace tubes.

Rrog and Rleff,

Perhaps I could have worded it better. All I was trying to say is that, in trying to describe a tube amplifiers sound, it is not unheard of for someone to state that a particular tube amplifier's sound has more in common with solid state than the typical tube amp. For instance, I have frequently heard it said that the sound of modern tube amplifiers is more solid state like than older vintage tube designs.

While I was pecking away on my keyboard, Tvad, once again, was out in front and, as usual, more eloquent.