solid state vs tubes

MrT:

That was not your original question.

Which is it?

Mapman, One of the advantages of ss amplification is it's inherently low output impedance, low speaker impedance speaker loads are almost never a concern. There are some, that believe that the best results occur when impedance's are more closely matched (Jeff Roland?) rather than having a low to high ratio. I suspect it might have more to do with application. It appears to me that it is much easier to achieve better bass response and steadier impedance loads in lower impedance speakers than in higher impedance speakers.

I have had many tube and solid state components , I've slowly gone all S.S. . The last 3 to 4 years tube and solid state has nearly reached convergance , at least in the higher end . The break down rate on the tubes was only slightly higher retubing for my preamp was $ 550. per year , my power amp $2200. per year , the odd time you would get a bad tube and have to start over . Go over your recommended tube life and things would start to go very wrong , so I was listing less to save tube life , also the heat from the tubes in the summer meant reduced listing time . I loved my tubes , but I have found S.S. gear thats equally as injoyable , although somewhat more pricy up front . M

"The break down rate on the tubes was only slightly higher retubing for my preamp was $ 550. per year , my power amp $2200. per year"

Wow, that's scary.

The tubes in my ARC sp16 are coming up on 2 years with a lot of play. I have had minor noise issues that I have alleviated by shuffling existing tubes, but I think the time is coming to replace all. From ARC, the cost of doing that is about $30 a tube or $180 dollars total for 6 12AX7s.

I really like the ARC but if I were shelling out hundreds a year just to retain the good sound, it would probably be out the door and back to all SS for me.

So many possible responses.
Isn't it true that when connecting to the various taps on a transformer that you are using more or fewer windings? Won't that change sound more than the load variations to a SS amp?
I like the talk of sensitivity and efficiency as different things. Also on the plate is impedance...and not just a single nominal number, but the range, along with min / max for any given speaker.
Than again, nobody has yet mentioned phase. I am told that Harbeth makes LS 3/5a type speakers and though they are about 83db sensitive, make a wonderful match for tube amps. Benign phase and moderate impedance range are key.
My panels should work with tubes, as well. Reasonably flat impedance curve and no wacky phase problems.

Naw, I think the concept at least is pretty simple. Compatibility / synergy can be chosen electrically. Magic happens when you get it REALLY right. It shouldn't take a lot of money for a good, basic, solid, good sounding simple system. No need to spend a bundle on cables, either.

Again, damping has come up. And nobody has mentioned speaker 'Q'. What role does the design of the speaker have in all this? Can't a critically damped speaker produce fine bass in an 0 damping factor system? I suspect so.
You don't need a DF of 10,000 to get good bass 'control', which is one of the red herrings of audio. A speaker with 'Q'=1.25 will be sloppy almost no matter WHAT you do.