Why is solid state more popular when tubes are better?

That's a personal question, I don't have to answer that. Not sure that's relevant. 

I think it's because audio sales people don't wanna spend all the time necessary to sell tube gear.

From what I can read above, tube is preferable but too much of a hassle to take care of, which really isn't true.

Fast food commodity is what solid-state devices tend to be. They are crude, fatiguing and just annoying. Some are better than others, and many are cheap but look really pretty in a nice looking chassis.

multiple reasons why tube sound better? It probably is due to how harmonics are handled.  Don't tubes impact harmonics differently, ie, provide more emphasis throughout the harmonic range in ways solid state does not?  This is possibly why tube's provide a Fuller sound at lower volume.

There were a couple passing references to harmonics up above, wish there was more discussion about harmonics, and wish I better understood why things sound differently. Maybe the new tube amp on order Will be helpful.  

I apologize for my two digit IQ. Purpose in my lead off post is to solicit comments from much brighter people than me to better understand merits of why tube amplifiers on balance seem to be preferred, after allowing for operating inconveniences.

I think I succeeded. There are some remarkable posts herein.

I will soon have both tube and solid-state amplifiers in house and since mobility is a problem for me I pretty much buy on faith. 

Regarding reference systems recently mentioned above. While very respectable, these seem to be professionally grown Systems revealing precise characteristics of music being played that may not be enjoyable for longer-term use. They are used to analyze and promote a never ending parade of components. Reference systems I don’t think contain much in the way of tubes.

Appreciate all the responses in this very unique environment.

@ghdprentice 

Love your main system room, the only thing I would change is the addition of a pool table. How cool to have a party in this amazing space, and addition of a flatscreen.

@bolong 

That was a great link to the valve article.

Harmonics are key to understanding why tubes can be more desirable too many.

It's good to have this discussion. Also the ability to control gain more affectively at lower volume levels I think may also be a huge plus. Which I believe explains the Fuller sound at lower volume settings.  So it's a combination of harmonics and gain Control that are handled differently by tubes that -yield a desirable outcome.

I need to better understand odd and even harmonics, and how they interplay within a tube amplifier. The article touched on this and was helpful.

I have on order a 300 W tube Mono block amplifier pair. And I've also kept my solid state 600 w mono amplifiers so it will be an interesting comparison. 

My speakers require a lot of power, so a set tube amp may not be the best choice.

Like so many of us we all evolve, I bought solid state amplifiers and now I'm buying tube amplifiers. After being unsatisfied with solid state amplifiers, which of harsh and overly clinical. 

@audphile1 

Wow your system has a lumin streamer. I have an x1.

You also have a lava lamp.

The thought that Genres of Music should influence whether to you use tubes or not is absurd. All genres of music except awful rap contains a wide diversity of musical instrument representation. Less so or more so, it’s all there.

@rwbadley

Thank you for your question. I have compared tubes and solid state. And haven’t been without the tubes for a while at this point, as I am waiting for finalization of equipment for delivery..

Going back to solid state after experiencing tubes makes one appreciate the specialness of what tubes do for sonic quality. Listening to a powerful solid-state amplifier is very nice but it’s not special. It’s very clinical and still enjoyable. Tube impact is remarkable, it’s interesting to listen to and you want more and more of it. It Is remarkably more enjoyable in comparison. To go back to solid state was very disappointing.

Vocals, horns, classical instruments, guitars, increased music complexity, Rock ’n’ roll Music from the 70s it’s all absolutely amazing. Vibrancy and dynamics and emphasis is far superior.

@ghdprentice 

And how did it sound? Any tubes? 

Transistors transistors transistors. Need more transistors.

At least with tubes you could see it and swap out. With transistors who the hell knows what the heck it is. So the manuf company buy some transistors from China or some far off place and they stick it in the box and connect wires to it. Does anybody with a solid state amplifier know anything about the transistors being used. Is it communicated. Nooooooooo, it's never or poorly communicated.

At least when you buy food you know the ingredients.

Presto, if I was selling preamps I would definitely want to name it presto.

Zesto!, if I was ever selling preamps, I would definitely want to name them zesto.

How can I take this brand name seriously