Tube vs. Solid State Amplifiers

Anyone ever hear an ASR Emitter II Exclusive? When I inherited a sum of money from my beloved Auntie, I decided to buy a stereo that would punch above it’s weight class. At first, I considered buying a flagship McIntosh tube preamp with two flagship McIntosh Solid State mono blocks but the overall cost was more than I wanted to pay. I then considered a tube preamp and two tube mono blocks from an arcane Serbian amp maker. However, I was uncomfortable about spending a huge sum of money by buying equipment from an Eastern European company that I wasn’t sure would exist two years after my purchase. Plus the cost was three times that of the McIntosh combination. It just so happened that I called Zed at Musical Sounds and he offered me a generous discount on a new ASR. Next time I get an inheritance, I will trade in my current ASR for the newest version. The ASR sounds neither like solid state or tube but it has the best features of both. And while there are other amplifiers that closely match the build and sound quality of the ASR, they had a starting price of around $46,000.00. Also, the ASR needs no preamp. 

Hate to be crotchety here but artistic expression in Industrial Design is secondary to making money. A lot of research and design by Volkswagen, Apple, etc… is to determine an aesthetic that will drive consumerism. If a manufacturer misses the mark in terms of it’s Industrial or Graphic Design, that determiner is supported primarily by a lack of revenue. Aesthetic principles however should support the functionality of the product, just as Set Design should support the play it was created for. There have been numerous times when I’ve found certain products to be less than visually appealing however they sold well and so there was no incentive for the manufacturer to change its appearance. So to each his own but for the company, it’s just a business decision.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine who teaches piano. She has a refurbished Steinway grand in her living room and was thinking about getting rid of it and buying another. Different piano manufacturers  came up, Weber, Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Baldwin, Yamaha, etc… The focus topic was; ‘which of these piano makers could create an outstanding grand piano’? We both agreed to the same answer, ‘all of them’. My thought is that both, solid state amplifier makers and tube amplifier makers make wonderful sounding amps but who is able to shell out the money to buy them?

So for an OTL amp, you’re in need of a 16-ohm pair of speakers which I would think is rather limiting. As I’ve mentioned above, there are amplifiers that offer sound characteristics equal to the best of both tube and solid state. I can’t understand why someone would overlook those manufacturers if that sound quality is what there looking for.

atmasphere, certainly would like to own an Atmasphere valve amp. Understanding the options better would help in deciding which one. 

twoleftears, it’s good to see that linear tube audio is in Takoma Park. It would be worthwhile to visit them in person.

Sorry Duke, I'm not currently in the market for a new amp but maybe in the future.