Tubes/SS Power Amps?

I agree with those above who think that, even with a tubed preamp, a tubed power amp makes a necessary contribution. That said, we don’t all hear, process and evaluate music the same. If the differences between SS and tubes aren’t discernible to you (which is fine - it doesn’t mean that you can’t hear, it just means that you don’t care) then by all means, unless you’re seeking a substitute for logs burning in a fireplace, buy SS. Get a relatively efficient A/AB design; but even then, your speaker’s demand for power will be a big factor, so choose an amplifier that easily provides for those demands.

I agree with Mechan's post. Tubed amps do indeed make a difference that IME cannot be duplicated with a tubed preamp. However, it is my experience that really good SS gear can also sound like music. My Class A Clayton amps have a low bias switch so I can warm them up in anticipation of playing them hours later, or even play them at low bias if I am not seriously listening. They are very musical and fully balanced (as well as 300wpc all in Class A). I suspect there are at least a few other musical SS amps out there. One I always wanted to hear (but haven't) is the Jones audio amp, based on the review at the 10Audio site, although I don't believe they are balanced.

When there were such places as "High end emporiums", I spent so much time in those places, that my wife swore I was seeing another woman; she couldn't believe that I was obsessed with "high end sound". This was at the same time I began to subscribe to "Stereophile". After reading "Recommended components", I would go to the salon and audition whatever they had, this way I learned to classify sound by "A", "B", or "C". The SS amps were affordable class "C", while the tube amps were class "A" and "B"; consequently, I never heard a Class "A" SS amp.

In case no one has noticed, our summers are getting hotter, and AC bills are getting higher. If I'm going to have a furnace in my listening room, it certainly wont be a SS furnace. All the SS amps I've owned ran cool, but I never owned a Class "A" SS amp, and from what I've read in the reviews, "they all run hot", and that's the problem. Does anyone know of a Class "A" SS that doesn't run hot. Here is a list of Class "A" SS amps: Bryston, Classe, darTZeel, Halcro, Jeff Rowland, Lamm, Pass Labs, Musical Fidelity, and of course there are many other high quality SS amps. In regard to the "stereotypical" tube, SS comments, that's the way it was, and not necessarily the way it is. ARC sounds awfully SS to me, and CJ has changed from the way the used to sound, to a sound closer to ARC.

Jfrech, the Ayre VX-5 looks absolutely stunning, A Herron at about the same price is on my audition list; thanks for the "heads up".

Hi I had a similar need as yours...less heat (upstairs in texas get's hot fast)...but I always owned tube amps...ARC or BAT...A few years ago I bought a pair of Ayre MXRs.

Really happy. They get very warm to the touch...but don't really emit heat...like the shelf above them is just barely warm...

Not sure your price range...The new Ayre VX5 might be a great choice to...http://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-vx-5

Orpheus10,

I'm going to give you the advice that, I'm sure, many other readers of this thread are thinking of:

If you want tube flavored sound without the heat of tubes and class A ss amps, you should try out a quality tubed preamp of your choice with a class D ss amp or monoblocs. You didn't mention your budget or other components but here are some good class D amps that may give you what you're searching for:

Acoustic Imagery Atsah monoblocs

Mola-Mola monoblocs

Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocs

All 3 incorporate the latest technology in class D technology, the Hypex Ncore NC1200 switching amp modules. All 3 of these amps have high power capabilities, are generally neutral in sonic nature,run at about room temperature and I think they all are about $10-12,000/pair. Although they each utilize the same Hypex modules, they all also use proprietary methods in their surrounding designs. I've recently become a class D fan after pairing my mid-level tubed preamp with a budget ClassD Audio stereo amp. My amp is not in the same league as the monoblocs I suggested above but I am still more than thrilled with mine, anyway. You should probably give atleast one of these amps a tryout in your system prior to purchasing another amp, IMO. If your speakers require a high powered amp(s), I would even say it's a must audition.

Good luck on your search,
Tim

I agree with mechans. Tube pre alone cannot give you the liquidity that a tube pre n tube power combination provides. It's like a teaser only and leaves you wanting more. Just like oliver twist said: sir may I have more????

I also think your statement that a tube pre gives you the real tube sound and magic is wrong.Tube power amps make an enormous contribution to the character of the sound. I can't tell you how much it changed my system. I had tried using tube pre amps but they simply don't come close to what tube power sounds like.
There is this fantasy that a tube somewhere in the chain will give you tube sound. If that is true what about the converese, does SS anywhere in the system give you the SS sound? Will an SS pre and tube power sound like SS?

Not monoblocks, but I'm using a Cary 200.2 s/s amp with an ARC Pre, and it sounds very nice. Might be more power than you're looking for, but no heat to speak of at all. A/B design, has both Balanced and RCA Load is a pair of Martin Logan Theos.

Compared to the tube amps that I've owned, ALL SS amps run cooler, even the Class A amps. :)

Orpheus, I must jump in to disabuse you for writing that "I don't think there's much difference between tubes and SS amps when you have a tube pre; especially top of the line."

There are dozens of threads on the Forum which speak to the issue of amp/speaker electrical compatibility. I suggest that you read Ralph Atmasphere) Karsten's White Paper that discusses the so called Voltage and Power Paradigms. Search ther Forum archives to find it.

Here's another great site that also explains why some speakers are tube friendly and others not:

dhtrob.com/overige/tubefriendly_lsp_en.php

If one is a serious audiophile, IME/IMO, I think the issue of amp type and heat pales when considering amp/speaker electrical compatibility.

Cheers,

BIF