A watt is a watt. This is what in logic is called a tautology, a statement that is always true and therefore says nothing. A watt is a watt is the kind of thing that impresses the non-thinking type susceptible to irrational emotional stories.
Besides, it takes like about three seconds to realize what total BS it is. We all know plenty of examples of solid state amps that measure the same watts but yet one sounds more powerful. We also know the same for tube amps. If not all tube watts sound the same, and not all solid state watts sound the same, then what reason do we have to think all tube watts sound the same as all solid state watts? None.
This is what we like to call an airtight argument. No two ways around it. Tube watts and solid state watts are not created equal. The only question now is which tends to sound more powerful than the other? Tubes. Hands down. Not even close.
Another clue this is true, solid state people are always trying to explain away the fact tubes seem more powerful. They come up with all kinds of fancy theories. Being illogical, they do not even notice this is all very much beside the point. Nobody ever said tube watts measure greater. That would be absurd. What we say is they give the distinct impression of being more powerful. No amount of "explaining away" will ever change that.
Yet they keep on, like the Energizer Bunny, equally irrational, they keep going, and going....
