Tube vs. Solid State Amplifiers

Speaker sensitivity is key. Harbeth M40 speaker is not going to perform well with say a Raven Blackhawk. 

Output: 20wpc
Frequency response: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
Speaker terminals: 4 and 8 ohm
5 single-ended RCA inputs and 1 single-ended RCA sub output
Recommended speaker sensitivity: 85dB - 95dB
Dimensions: W 15.5" x D 14" x H 6.5"
Weight: 35lbs

Technical Features
3-way vented:
300mm Harbeth bass unit;
200mm Harbeth RADIAL2™ mid;
25mm ferrofluid-cooled tweeter.

Frequency response
35Hz – 20kHz, ±3dB free-space, grille on, smooth off-axis response

Impedance
6-8 ohms, easy to drive

Sensitivity
86dB/2.83V/1m axial

Amplifier suggestion
Works with a wide range of amplifiers – suggested from 35W/channel

Power handling
650W programme

Dimensions
750 x 432 x 388 mm (+12mm for grille and binding posts)

Connectors
Two WBT-nextgen binding posts

Weight
38kg each (without packing)

Space needs
Ideally free-space away from walls.

Stands
Optimally to bring ears level with tweeters. (Tweeter: 660mm up from cabinet base)

Packing
Single speaker per protective carton

Grille colour
Black

@twoleftears my point is that a 20 watt Raven is not a good match to drive them. Many have attested to this here at this very forum.

Tubes are nothing but power bulbs. Archaic, noisy, additive in distortion artifacts.
Power bulbs hold no mysterious, intangible aura for me. They are plagued by problems. Well executed solid state designs have so many advantages that are too numerous to list. AND SS amplifiers mop the floor with power bulbs in every audible specification and sound quality.

Clearly you have not listened to a HQ tube amp in the last decade or even two.
But you are entitled to your opinion. I have High End Tube Amps and High End SS ( Simaudio, PASS, AR, AH and QS) gear in my home and they are matched with the appropriate Impedance and Sensitivity speakers and they all sound GREAT! Each with their own character and flaws.

But I appreciate them for what they do well and for me it is about the music not the gear. Being an analog guy I prefer valves to SS.
Enjoy the music Earl.

@davkobza +1 yes a Tube pre with SS amp or SS pre with tube amps can be quite a combo. At the same token hybrid integrated like McIntosh and Pathos offer are quite nice too.

+1 @coltrane1 . So done with SS though I did enjoy all my Simaudio gear. I also enjoy Pathos Hybrid gear.

100% sold on quality Tubes in a quality Integrated. With quality Cables, Speakers and Room Treatments.

Owning 845, 211, 805, 45s EL34s KT88 120 and 300Bs and a mix of Japanese made tube amps purchased from ebay and direct from Sound-gate in Japan.

I am not into Artificial Distortion and syrupy mushy or Lush sounding Amplifiers i find that after sometime i get sick of it. I need an amp that can handle any type of music i throw at it.

Guess maybe if you tried a modern quality tube amp with quality tubes like Ayon, AR, Macintosh, Jardis, Quicksilver, AH Qualiton, Quad or the like you would have found the joy many of us have.

But to each their own and enjoy what you have.