Affordable SS that sound like Tubes


I was a 100% vinyl guy for many years. Due to maintenance cost and aggravation I switched to DSD after a lot of research and I have no regrets.

 

I am looking for suggestions on affordable SS that sounds as good as Tubes. 

 

Here's the rub. My Mid Monos were less than $2,000 brand new and they sound incredible. As does my Pre that costed me less than $1,000.

Integrated suggestions are welcomed.

And I would like to hear from people that had fine tube equipment and switched to fine SS equipment.

And please, no mention of "Tubes have Higher Distortion." LOL

T

128x128tonydennison

@tonydennison - I have an xA25, but think the First watt sit 3, with a tube front end sounds the best with my Cornwall lV’s.

Look into a hybrid integrated amp. The cayin h80a is class A, dual mono and has 2 pre amp tubes. Very well built, sounds great and could be had in the 2k range used. Tube rolling is east because you only have the 2 pre amp tubes to roll and you can experiment all you want. 
 

Good luck! 

This isn't exactly on topic but... Recently heard Anthem gear with and without room correction turned on. The sound was pretty darn good. 

I've been suffering from a bit of tube replacement anxiety, and thus weighing my options. My amp uses kt120's and they're as rare as hens teeth at the moment. So, yeah I've auditioned some SS gear but, nothing is really the same as tubes

Your claim express a generalization and prejudice not clear thinking...

First :

All productions in amplifier from Sansui extend 67 years with very different period of production...Only a false reasonning  will conflate all these years of production  as the same mediocre  quality...

Second : All there is to do in an amplifier is not about materials but also design and the design GOAL ...The question of the OP was about the possible existence at affordable price  of an  S.S. sounding as tube... Sansui was one of the few companies which tried to emulate tube amplification with S.S. design and this was done  OFFICIALLY and succeeded in a public contest for all ears to listen  with their top tube tube amplifier beside their S.S. model IN PUBLIC ... Is this question of the OP  a true sincere question or just a trolling line ? I dont know but i answered to it specifically ...

Third : i just tried to upgrade my AKG K340 headphone by replacing my Sansui alpha by one of the most acclaimed amplifier in the last decade in the world, no negative reviews for this tube amplifier ... It takes few minutes of listenings to keep the Sansui with his headphone out over a dedicated amplification one of the most acclaimed one ...

There is not even a contest possible on any acoustic factor, not ONE...Dynamic. transients, timbre, holography , soundstage , out of the head projection impression or reproduction of recording acoustic etc

Four :

Why ?

Because ignorant with prejudices in audio , fetichists of their contemporary  brand ignore SYNERGY they ignore that synergy matter, even over the exact  decade date  of the design production they ignore not only Vintage past flagships which for the best of them are not far off the most advanced one of today, and if we take into account synergy may rival them and even beat them completely as in my experience comparing tube of today with S.S. design of the past  24 hours ago ...

 

Instead of posting 3 lines prejudicial posts inform yourself...😁

The best headphone i ever tried compete with the highest top headphone of today and was designed 45 years ago... I will not explain why here...

I will not speak about sound quality/ price ratio because it has nothing to do with the question : is some TOP Sansui good amplification ?

 

In japan these  Sansui alpha amplifier are described are TOP amplification and sold at very high price in the used market... They are a steal for those who are not brainwashed consumers of audio reviews where they sell anything new as the best ever especially if it cost 20,000 bucks... This top Sansui can be bought few thousands... i bought mine a more affordable one with the same basic design 300 bucks... I smile when you sleep paying big money for your fetish of today ... And i dont need a  tube amplification ... My Sansui sound more tube like with details and fluidity than anything i heard including the last tube amp i bought yesterday and return in the same day ...SYNERGY MATTER... It is second most important factor in audio AFTER ACOUSTIC... Not price tag nor audio reviews articles...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa2Y95eQjNA&list=PLnQJF3Qi_4_A5BFgnV1w5wNNfnks3u0oL&index=55&t=618s

 

Is a Pass XA-25 affordable? I use one alternated (mood swings) with a tube amp. Also, Sansui amps were at best mediocre back in the day, and compared to even the least expensive integrated these days a comparison is laughable.