The ups and downs of tube vs. SS...

I started off SS.  Then I discovered Cary 300B.  Loved the presentation, but it needed at least 1/2 hour warm-up, couldn't be left on constantly, so spontaneous listening sessions were sidelined.  Short of time, like @jtweed, I switched back to SS (Ayre).  Then I heard CMII, much shorter time to get going (if not at best), and switched back.  Still not quite there.  Now I'm thinking SS with some tube-like qualities, either Belles Virtuoso or preamp[TBD] + Pass XA25.

I have had both and I am now using Pass Labs XA mono-blocs and I am very pleased with the results. Tubes are fun to play (rolling) with but can require much more maintenance and I can't say they are sonically superior to my Pass XA Mon-Blocs. Pass class A SS better bass control and the XA amps give me that mid to high frequency detail and delicacy I desire.
It really comes down to you the listener as I can certainly understand the desire for vacuum tubes and have considered picking up a Cary 300B integrated for the fun and beauty of a vacuum tube amplifier.
Also I had a power tube let go once and the main fuse didn't blow, there is a reason they call them fire bottles.

Chuck 

Confessions of a former tube roller:

Schubert is right. The cost of tubes can be significant. IMO rolling tubes can be habit forming, but isn’t that part of being a true audiophile, never leaving well enough alone?

If you think the cost of tubes is high, and I’m talking about really good NOS Bad Boys and Orange Globes and Bugle Boys and so forth, wait’ll ya get a load of the cost of tube dampers, especially when you do what I did and use two dampers per tube. That’s right, two! And I’m talking about the Herbies dampers, not the cheap little elastomer jobs that don’t do anything.