Sansui in the past take the time to take their best tube amplifier, one of the best in the world at this times, and create a S.S. amplifier that replicate it with his sound so perfectly that they compare the 2 side by side with no distinction between the 2...
This is one of the reason that i bought my Sansui of this era...
I really think that the varieties of tube amplifier and the varieties of S.S. amplifiers to compare with, coupled to the varieties of digital or analog sources, adding to that with the different possible embeddings controls, right or wrong, for all these possibilities of coupling, must preclude ANY definitive conclusion....
If i replace one day my Sansui with a tube amplifier(the Berning ZOTL) it will not at all because the sound is S.S..... Warm, detailed, tri dimensional etc it sound analog not digital at all for my ears, i even bought a second one....
Passion is also my personal quality and my main defect....😁
Then......
I will not condemn those who vouch for tubes, like those who vouch for turntable, never....
But S.S. is different from S.S. like no tubes sound like another tube amplifier....
It seems evident....
The most rewarding upgrade is not buying a new amp. or anything else, it is to install controls over the many dimensions where you system work....
This is my only certainty....After experiments.....
The only thing someone can affirm: "my actual tube amp sound better than all my past S.S. amp in this embeddings dimensions of my house".... Thats all....
Give me a S.S. amplifier of my choice, and another room and some time to work this out and i will beat him..... And vice versa if someone vouch for his S.S. amplifier....
Give me a ZOTL then and a house where i will control the embeddings and i will beat the opponent S.S. ...
The only exception will be very high end tube or S.S. unknown to me in a perfectly controlled opponent house that will beat my imperfect knowledge....😊
But even losing in this competition would never be able to erase my point about the importance of embeddings controls over almost any upgrade.... That is my opinion and limited experience...
Combining Analog and digital is the way.....For sure....
This is one of the reason that i bought my Sansui of this era...
I really think that the varieties of tube amplifier and the varieties of S.S. amplifiers to compare with, coupled to the varieties of digital or analog sources, adding to that with the different possible embeddings controls, right or wrong, for all these possibilities of coupling, must preclude ANY definitive conclusion....
If i replace one day my Sansui with a tube amplifier(the Berning ZOTL) it will not at all because the sound is S.S..... Warm, detailed, tri dimensional etc it sound analog not digital at all for my ears, i even bought a second one....
Passion is also my personal quality and my main defect....😁
Then......
I will not condemn those who vouch for tubes, like those who vouch for turntable, never....
But S.S. is different from S.S. like no tubes sound like another tube amplifier....
It seems evident....
The most rewarding upgrade is not buying a new amp. or anything else, it is to install controls over the many dimensions where you system work....
This is my only certainty....After experiments.....
The only thing someone can affirm: "my actual tube amp sound better than all my past S.S. amp in this embeddings dimensions of my house".... Thats all....
Give me a S.S. amplifier of my choice, and another room and some time to work this out and i will beat him..... And vice versa if someone vouch for his S.S. amplifier....
Give me a ZOTL then and a house where i will control the embeddings and i will beat the opponent S.S. ...
The only exception will be very high end tube or S.S. unknown to me in a perfectly controlled opponent house that will beat my imperfect knowledge....😊
But even losing in this competition would never be able to erase my point about the importance of embeddings controls over almost any upgrade.... That is my opinion and limited experience...
Combining Analog and digital is the way.....For sure....