I own both solid state and tube pre-amps and amps (Placette and First Sound, Pass and CJ). As with many things in life, I cant decide which I prefer, so I switch offa month or two with one, then the other. When I make a switch, Im usually glad I did and wonder what took me so long.
On balance, however, I tend to prefer solid state. For all of the strengths of tubesthe body, the bloom, the emotional connection, and the other qualities, which many of you have articulated so well--most of the time when Im listening to tubes I am craving greater clarity. Tube amps, particularly at lower listening volumes, tend to sound too soft to me, as if I am listening with a pillow over my head.
I am obsessed with the sound of cymbals. If I put on a jazz z recording, regardless of how great the piano or sax or kick drum may sound, if the cymbals dont have what I believe is correct bite and aliveness, then I cant be happy. Solid state seems to deliver these qualities more consistently, whereas tubes (my tube amps, anyway) seem rolled. I wish I would not fixate on this so much, but there you are.
However, Ive come to feel that listening level is a huge variable in all of this and, further, it is too widely ignored by reviewers and audiophiles alike. A story: I was in a dealers many years ago listening to one of the original Hales loudspeakers. I remember thinking it sounded awfully dull, like an old Advent or AR speaker. Later, someone else came in to hear the Hales, put on an opera selection and cranked it way up. I was floored! It sounded so much like the real thing! But I rarely listen that loud. I knew then that the Hales were a very good speaker and also that they were not for me.
I tend to listen at low volume, where detail and clarity serve to help the illusion of music. At higher volumes, these may become less important. Most systems are demonstrated at high volumes. At HE 2002, for example, many, many rooms were louder than I normally listen (and many were just too loud, period). (Most also sounded too bright to me, so I dont think I generally prefer a bright sound.)
A system that sounds good to me at high volume (even lifelike volume) may not be a good choice for me because it may not deliver the goods at the lower levels I typically prefer. If Ive got the tube amps in my system and I crank it up, the cymbals sound right and the music sounds real, more real than with solid state. But at lower volume
I would like to see reviewers be more diligent about addressing performance at different listening levels, particularly for speakers and amplifiers.
-Dan
On balance, however, I tend to prefer solid state. For all of the strengths of tubesthe body, the bloom, the emotional connection, and the other qualities, which many of you have articulated so well--most of the time when Im listening to tubes I am craving greater clarity. Tube amps, particularly at lower listening volumes, tend to sound too soft to me, as if I am listening with a pillow over my head.
I am obsessed with the sound of cymbals. If I put on a jazz z recording, regardless of how great the piano or sax or kick drum may sound, if the cymbals dont have what I believe is correct bite and aliveness, then I cant be happy. Solid state seems to deliver these qualities more consistently, whereas tubes (my tube amps, anyway) seem rolled. I wish I would not fixate on this so much, but there you are.
However, Ive come to feel that listening level is a huge variable in all of this and, further, it is too widely ignored by reviewers and audiophiles alike. A story: I was in a dealers many years ago listening to one of the original Hales loudspeakers. I remember thinking it sounded awfully dull, like an old Advent or AR speaker. Later, someone else came in to hear the Hales, put on an opera selection and cranked it way up. I was floored! It sounded so much like the real thing! But I rarely listen that loud. I knew then that the Hales were a very good speaker and also that they were not for me.
I tend to listen at low volume, where detail and clarity serve to help the illusion of music. At higher volumes, these may become less important. Most systems are demonstrated at high volumes. At HE 2002, for example, many, many rooms were louder than I normally listen (and many were just too loud, period). (Most also sounded too bright to me, so I dont think I generally prefer a bright sound.)
A system that sounds good to me at high volume (even lifelike volume) may not be a good choice for me because it may not deliver the goods at the lower levels I typically prefer. If Ive got the tube amps in my system and I crank it up, the cymbals sound right and the music sounds real, more real than with solid state. But at lower volume
I would like to see reviewers be more diligent about addressing performance at different listening levels, particularly for speakers and amplifiers.
-Dan