Tubes? Transistors? Which are better?

The impression I'm getting is that the ss amps have great detail and bass, but tubes create a soft, pleasing image for mids and highs. Why not take advantage of both in an active biamp pattern? I'm presently using a Mark Leninson 334 to drive my K-horns and LaScalas. The bass doesn't get any better than this, but the mids and highs are a bit harsh at times. I'm thinking about trying a Rane AC22 active crossover to split the signal to the ML334 for the bass, and a Conrad Johnson Premier 12 to handle the mids and highs. Any comments on this idea?

Red: first try upgrading your internal speaker wiring & the crossover too. Refer to the Klipsch site forums & look up the ALK crossover, or email me directly for info.

I find the highs made by SS repro to be a bit harsh on my ears, but other than that it is the same as far as distortion comfort goes. I prefere SET but own and enjoy most types of analog, keeping my digital to just my disc player.

In my experience, solid state does not sound as musical as tubes. On a very basic level, tubes sound more like the instruments sound. SS is thinner, flatter, less fleshed out, less dimensional, less body, less harmonic structure.

I don't care anymore about damping factor, the tightest and most powerful bass, the last shred of detail, the lowest distortion, etc., ad nauseum. All I care about is what gives me the most pleasure and sounds more REAL. To be honest, I have found that tubes actually give the MOST detail; they are better able to sort out the instrumental lines than any solid state amp does. Yes, there might be some tiny detailing that is more evident on SS, but SS still does not keep the instrumental lines as separated and does not give you the organic "whole" of the entire musical ensemble. It's hard to explain, but when you hear the things tubes do so much better, you don't want to listen to SS anymore. I'm a musician, so my ear is quite atuned to knowing what sounds most like the musical experience, and tubes are that.

I am in total agreement with tubegroover and kevziek. Tubes are just more musical. I used to own a Classe 70 amp, then upgraded to my current Aronov. Wow, what a difference. Definitely feels like a performer is in the room singing just for me. Yippeee!! I can immerse myself for a while and enjoy the musical moment. For me, that's what this is all about. Helps relieve stress and all that. Of course, its not as accurate as SS, bass not as tight. But, my speakers don't have much base anyway. Although, a few years ago I listened to a dealer demo system with a pair of Levinson No.33 monoblocks, Levinson CDT/DAC, Wilson Grand Slamms, and Transparent cables and boy, that was REAL good, an event for me really. It was CD too! Reminds me of the tube 'presence' and much more. I guess the top-level SS might have everything you could ever want. (haven't hear a top-flight tube system yet though)