Tube sound with no tubes

Perhaps I'm too cynical but when folks say a SS piece 'sounds like tubes' I assume that it has a dark tone, is closed in, and in fact sounds nothing like tubes.

Conversely, when someone sez that a tube piece sounds like SS it is unduly emphasizing the upper-mid range and highs to maximize its stereo imaging capabilities, and if fact sounds nothing like SS.

I'll spare you my opinion of what tubes sound like.......:-)But if you really want to hear tubes you've got to buy them. There's no free lunch.

IMO the best of both worlds is a good quality solid state pre and power amplifiers with tubes in the output stages of your source components.

Vic

I had a TVC using the S&B Mark I trannies. It sounded more like a tube preamp than a lot of tube preamps did. By that I mean it was full and rich, but with lots of transparency and resolution. I'm not sure how a TVC would work in your situation, but it's worth looking into. I would still have one in mine, but I changed amps and needed the extra gain.

Shakey

I've had my supratek Syrah on 24/7 for 4 years or so, and I've had to replace one tube. (the power supply tube)

Not really a whole lot of maintainence...

Plinius have a tube-like sound.