Tube amps that kick ass?

I heard a system once with DCS source, VTL pre-amp, and hefty VAC amps driving Magico mini speakers in a smaller dealer demo room. THis combo was uniquely striking and reference quality in particular in its ability to deliver orchestral strings from standard CD in an exceptionally realistic sounding manner. So it "kicked ass" in that particular way, and was no slouch otherwise as well. The VAC monoblock amps were particularly striking aesthetically as well. Dealer mentioned some kind of automatic tube bias system in the VAC gear. DOn't know the details of how that worked, but it was working quite well that particular day.

I think pairing most any tube amp with the right speakers will more determine "kick ass" potential than anything inherent with any particular tube amp.

I notice a pattern with tube amps that people, even vendors, get carried away with demonstrating how little SET amp tube power is needed to drive high efficiency speakers just to make a point about low power tube amps and high efficiency speakers.

Its true a set amp can go a long way with high efficiency speakers, but I think they are only capable of being "kick ass" with the absolute highest efficiency and largest horns, 100db efficient or more. At least that is what I am hearing with various set tube amp demos to date.

The thing that tubes share with SS amps is that more tube power rather than less, though to a lesser extent,is needed to get most speakers to "kick ass" on the types of music that rely on power and dynamics to truly hit home. Pop rock and even metal, big band, large scale classical works, etc. are all good examples. Recordings of smaller mostly acoustic ensembles might get by with less, though if there is drums/percussion involved, not so much.