HELP: I need a solid state amp with a tube sound

Off the top of my head the sweetest sounding in about that price range would be the Rowland Model 2...but this suggestion might not mean much not knowing what speakers are being used.

You really don't need to spend near that much to get excellent performance. May I suggest an Audio Research D200
amp for around a $1,000.00 and then send it to Great Northern Sound for upgrades and 'shu-bang', reference performance for under $1,500.00. This is no joke!

Check out YBA, of the many SS amps I've heard these are definetly the closest thing to tube I've ever heard. They make some of the best electronics you can buy. They have several different lines at varying price levels for you to look at. Personally I like the 1 series. Here is the website for the their north american distributor.

www.audioplusservices.com

Good Luck,
Brandon
brandonblair@telocity.com

With regards to the liquid musical timber, the pace, attack and vibrancy that a tube amplifier can naturally offer (if it is a good tube design and driving a load within it's peak operational performance values), I would suggest that you purchase a used Rowland amp. The Rowland amps seem to "pull" at you to drag you into the vastness of their soundstage (much like a tube amp) and they make you "feel" as if you are a "part" of the musical performance ... and they do it no matter "what" the volume setting... From "barely" able to hear it (microdynamics) to "front row" (concert level) loudness, the Rowland amplifiers are (quite simply) "magical". I am (currently) using Maggie 1.6QR's with a Rowland 112 and it is Audio Nirvana. The result is downright scarey with its holographic imaging and emotionally riviting involvement. Rowlands are not about "power" or "spec's" ... they about stating the "art" and bringing out "musical emotion". Your hunt for an amp will (forever) be over and you will never turn back.You can pick up Rowland within your budget (used), but models will vary. The 112 is usually a tad more than you wish to spend, but who knows what one may find ?

I've owned conrad johnson tube amps for 14 years...and so has my brother-in-law...other than retubing and replacing the on-off switch...no hassles. My formerly owned solid state amps from Hafler and Carver went to the shop more frequently (once each). I also currently own Bryston ... never has broken and has a 20 year warranty. So...are you sure SS amps are less hassle? This has NOT been my experience to date though I'm sure others disagree. Retubing is relatively epensive, but accounts for less than .2 % (.002) of our gross income every third year. We spend more on going to the movies than on new tubes. Lord knows I literally get more useage (time) out of the tubes than the theaters. The c-j s are easy to bias also. I understand Audio Research and VTL are similarly easy to live with. I've also heard good things about Quicksiver tube products and Sonic Frontiers regarding ease of use and lack of problems.