Hi. I've owned a pair for 8 years. Tubes have worked best for me - the local store also plumps for them, or steers you towards Gryphon SS. Positioning is crucial - currently, I have them in a somewhat unsympathetic room, but the sound improved markedly by placing them closer to the walls than previously (counter-intuitive, true) - so I suppose the lesson here for me was to experiment, despite the fact that each one, with its equally solid stand, weighs a ton. Good luck - in the end I'm sure you'll get superb sound.
Rob.
