Tubes? Transistors? Which are better?

Tubegroover is right on every count. As far as which is better, I prefer tubes. I cannot say that solid state couldn't make me or another person happy. But, I do know there is a certain rightness to me with tubes that doesn't come along very often with solid state. Some people accept NO substitute for tubes. The best analogy along those lines I have heard a person put it is tubes are like having a dog. Yeah, they mess on the floor, need to be walked, fed, etc. But, they are a real, living thing. Solid state is like a stuffed dog. No maintenance, but nothing else(feedback, reciprocation, realness, etc.) either.

One of the reasons I bought my current amp was the fact that it had tone controls. I think it was a bold step for the company. Jadis felt that they were beneficial to enough people in enough cases to try it out. This model has served as an "evaluation of the market", to test the waters in seeing customer reaction/feedback/long term opinion on them. The preamp section is passive and, I have to say it is a nice combination indeed. They have definitely added to my enjoyment of the music in many cases, so long as one does not go overboard. I hope other manufacturers follow suit in the future. I think we all do not have to follow in lockstep with the establishment in the universal condemnation of tone controls.

Garfish, perhaps you should investigate different tube amps. The various brands all have different sonic signatures. From solid state sounding, to as warm and sweet as honey. And EVERYTHING in between. Have you read the Sam Tellig review of a McCormack amp in Stereophile last month? Even Steve McCormack prefers the sounds of tubes(Ray Charles could read between those lines). But he designs solid state products because he likes the fact that the sound does not change over the long term. In my opinion, a solid state amp does degrade, just not as noticeable or as fast as with a tube amp. My father's Lafayette receiver(yes, it is in his number one system) needs to be completely gone through(dried out caps, etc.). And, in my opinion a well made tube amp can last a lifetime(witness Marantz, McIntosh, Leak, etc.). But, if your McCormack is the key to your listening bliss, God bless you.

Garfish, I am not sure what type of sound you are into, but that goes a long way towards knowing what type of tube amp to search out. By the way, did you happen to read the Michael Fremer review of the AR amp? He gets my vote for the biggest(next to J10) fraud in audio. He has never reviewed an Audio Research amp before(a feat in itself), and was surprised by its brightness(lack of tube warmth)??? That's like an automotive reviewer not knowing Porsches have a small back seat. I can never forget his review of a Muse 160 amp. He was on the soapbox delineating the differences between an experienced and a seasoned audio reviewer(category which he included himself in). I do understand your plight in being far from the easy to get to places. Makes auditioning a bear. It's easy to see why the McCormack works for you. They are great products. I don't share most people's fondness for VTL(maybe I am just crazy). I feel that trying to coordinate all those tubes tends to make the music coming out of their amp lack a certain coherence. And the cost involved in retubing... Must be like the ENIAC or UNIVAC computer we have here in Philadelphia(at the University of Pennsylvania). That thing has an absolutely STAGGERING amount of tubes. I once read how many tubes are replaced daily, and I almost fainted. I tend to focus on quality, rather than brute force of sound, and I am sure that plays into my VTL feelings. But in the end, if you have found satisfying sound, that is all that matters. Everything else is irrelevant.

You are always on point Garfish. I agree with everything you just said. I think the reason people like Fremer is that he pushes analog over digital. Otherwise, he makes more neophyte reviewer(even for us amateurs here) mistakes than should be accepted. He should really issue an apology for the things he said in that Muse 160 review. The biggest beef I have with Stereophile is that the best reviewers(DO, RH, SS, CG, WP, RJR, MC, RD, TJN) have either left, or ceded space to MF, JS(HORRIBLE!!!), KR, CS, etc. leaving a TREMENDOUS downturn in the quality of reviews. And JA seems to only review non-serious stuff now. The reason I bought my Jadis was that it could the things I loved best about the OTL/SET, yet still kick butt. And I don't have to worry about what speakers I am driving(for the most part). I truly feel that the main thing of this hobby is to do whatever you like, as that is all that matters. Happy listening.