Solid state to tube

I concurr SS has more slam. And it is a better fit to the kind of music I have always loved best. Started with hardrock, prog, then even some metal prog and now diving fully into electronic music, specially french. Not dance music, home listening electronic music, sounds so impressive it makes it hard to go back in times. And I am 68 but always been on the fringe in rock music. I barely ever listen to my couple hundred classical records anymore. However, the major draw back in tubes for me, it is yet one more way to tinker with the sound. And I already have so many ways to do that, cables, speaker placement, isolation, diffusers, absorbers, etc... it is fun to play with all that but it can become too time consuming taking you away from the main goal, listening to music. Plus tubes degrade in sound overtime so it even confuses things more. Keeping it simple is a luxury in audio and I try to lean that way. But my house of stereo system was in no way shape or form an easy undertaking.  Just reaping the fruits of it now and tubes set me back in that respect. To each his own.

Also, check out Coincident Audio for integrated tube amps.

Also, check out Coincident Audio tube integrated amps.

@ghdprentice 

if you look at my virtual system page, I have a few pictures of local musicians I enjoy. The sound of the bassists pictured do sound pretty much as you described.👍

Happy live listening.

Charles

About maintenance, it depends. I have a 25 year old Audio Research VT100 that still has its original tubes, and they’re doing great. Did have to replace the fan, however, at 24 years.

I agree that putting a tube preamp in your existing system would be a good way to start. Hard to know what did what if you change too many things at once. (Voice of experience here!)

Good luck and have fun!