Tubes/SS Power Amps?

I agree with Mechan's post. Tubed amps do indeed make a difference that IME cannot be duplicated with a tubed preamp. However, it is my experience that really good SS gear can also sound like music. My Class A Clayton amps have a low bias switch so I can warm them up in anticipation of playing them hours later, or even play them at low bias if I am not seriously listening. They are very musical and fully balanced (as well as 300wpc all in Class A). I suspect there are at least a few other musical SS amps out there. One I always wanted to hear (but haven't) is the Jones audio amp, based on the review at the 10Audio site, although I don't believe they are balanced.

I agree with those above who think that, even with a tubed preamp, a tubed power amp makes a necessary contribution. That said, we don’t all hear, process and evaluate music the same. If the differences between SS and tubes aren’t discernible to you (which is fine - it doesn’t mean that you can’t hear, it just means that you don’t care) then by all means, unless you’re seeking a substitute for logs burning in a fireplace, buy SS. Get a relatively efficient A/AB design; but even then, your speaker’s demand for power will be a big factor, so choose an amplifier that easily provides for those demands.

You didn't mention a price point so it's impossible to give you an intelligent answer . I had a fire at my beach house last fall do to my faulty tube amps , so tubes are now out of the question , for me .
The tube amps were almost new and were made by one of the oldest manufacturers around , they did quite allot of damage to the house which is still not inhibitable . I'm hoping the place will be ready for use by mid summer .
I no it's rare , but it's something to ponder .

Not monoblocks, but I'm using a Cary 200.2 s/s amp with an ARC Pre, and it sounds very nice. Might be more power than you're looking for, but no heat to speak of at all. A/B design, has both Balanced and RCA Load is a pair of Martin Logan Theos.

Orpheus10,

I'm going to give you the advice that, I'm sure, many other readers of this thread are thinking of:

If you want tube flavored sound without the heat of tubes and class A ss amps, you should try out a quality tubed preamp of your choice with a class D ss amp or monoblocs. You didn't mention your budget or other components but here are some good class D amps that may give you what you're searching for:

Acoustic Imagery Atsah monoblocs

Mola-Mola monoblocs

Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocs

All 3 incorporate the latest technology in class D technology, the Hypex Ncore NC1200 switching amp modules. All 3 of these amps have high power capabilities, are generally neutral in sonic nature,run at about room temperature and I think they all are about $10-12,000/pair. Although they each utilize the same Hypex modules, they all also use proprietary methods in their surrounding designs. I've recently become a class D fan after pairing my mid-level tubed preamp with a budget ClassD Audio stereo amp. My amp is not in the same league as the monoblocs I suggested above but I am still more than thrilled with mine, anyway. You should probably give atleast one of these amps a tryout in your system prior to purchasing another amp, IMO. If your speakers require a high powered amp(s), I would even say it's a must audition.

Good luck on your search,
Tim