Tube vs solid state (with all apologies)

Thanks all!

I’m not at all adverse to swapping out or dealing with tube life. Most of the tubes I own are old stock and lots of longevity left… plus I’m familiar with them. Of more of a concern to me are the transistors which are also likely to go out at some point, with little notice.

I appreciate all of the input. I’m going to stay solid state in the amplifier selection and move towards a tube preamp. Then rethink the amp situation.

Thank you, thank you! Very helpful… I knew this would be a common topic, and having just found Audiogond… I’ll be reading other discussions. A bit more detail…

I just purchased a set of used Martin Logan reQuests. They replace Snell E5 Mk2’s. 
In the last year I replaced an Adcom 200wpc with a McIntosh Mc 2100. I’m very close to buying a second and bi-amping these speakers.

I currently have an NAD solid state preamp. We mostly stream live music… soundboards via iTunes and wifi / bluetooth. 

I’ve got well over 100 old stock 12AX7, Y7, U7, etc… most all brands… so a lot to choose from.

like most people, I’m looking to assemble a nice system that I can enjoy… I don’t intend to be in a constant state of upgrading. While I’m far from rich… I do have a bit to spend as I look down the barrel of retirement in the next five years. 
I’m thinking solid state amplification, and in the next year or so upgrading to a full tube preamp. These are large purchases to me… and I am looking to do as much research via Internet opinion before I make the truck to a store ( I’m 40 or so miles in the mountains east of Denver).  Thanks again… I’m sure I’ll have more questions.

I hear you and appreciate your point of view. So far, at every juncture I’ve heard a significant difference.

The speakers have internal crossovers, with separate inputs for bi-amping. Martin Logan also recommend 100-200 watts… with a second amp I’ll be at 200 wpc as the top spec. And, the oversize speaker cables I have are set up already, I just haven’t used both sides. I’m looking to optimize not complicate things. 

the Martin Logan choice wasn’t arbitrary. I’ve known one of the founders for many years having lived in Lawrence, Kansas most of my adult life. I had the chance to do a service swap, but at the time needed to pay bills, feed kids, etc. I’ve been listening to them however for the better part of thirty years. My bias… I own that. 
I’ll check out the book! 

The immediate plan is to horizontally bi-amp with an Adcom GFA 585 on the low end and the mc2100 on the high end. The Mc is a lot sweeter sounding in bi-wire mode than the Adcom. If that doesn’t balance out, I have the budget for a second 2100 and will go vertical. I don’t at the moment want to spend the bucks on a 275 tube amp.

I’ll be planning for either an mc275 or a tube preamp as a next step.

(oh, and the reQuest panels have been replaced)

@sokogear

Old stock tubes should last 10-20 years… especially in audio gear. Even being hauled around in guitar amplifiers (a rough life) they can last that long. Preamp tubes are sensitive to being beaten up and sometimes become microphonic. Rectifiers either work or don’t… but have minimal impact on tone. Power tubes driven hard or bias’d hot have shorter lives.

modern made tubes suck by comparison, almost regardless of the brand stamped on them. Both in tone and longevity btw.

@sokogear

no disagreement here. Fortunately, I have boxes of tubes (many are for tv’s unfortunately) that my father passed on when he retired. SS is surely the low maintenance way… which is what prompted the original question. Listening to my mc2100… it’s easy to hear a warmth that my Adcom does not have, in spite of both being SS.

I have a couple of champs… they typically range from anemic to raging… partly depending upon the room. The original speaker is pretty lame… Jupiter, WGS, and Fat Jimmy really upped the game for 8” guitar speakers recently (the last few years).
I run a 6L6 instead of a 6V6. Those two changes make for a more robust sounding amp… As a result I alter the tone stack and dropping resistor to traditional blackface and silverface fender spec. They really perk up with all of that… not small or boxy sounding.