Anyone has a reference system where amplification is SS ?

Well, except for inna, where he/she does specify a right and wrong, and us ss folks have it all wrong. So laughable...

Mike, unless I missed it, you need a custom tube playback head outboard preamp for your Ampexes.

“transparent is not enough for a solid state amplifier, musically complete, grain less and flowing are the challenges. these are relative things. not absolutes.”

transparent is all of those things if those things are in the recording. Transparent means the output is audibly indistinguishable from the input other than the gain. If one wants some additional seasoning then euphonically colored amps are an option. But so are DSP simulators that do it better at a fraction of the cost with greater flexibility and the option to turn them off. 

Yes. With Jeff Rowland Model 12 Monoblocks. 

Mike, unless I missed it, you need a custom tube playback head outboard preamp for your Ampexes.

 

@inna

you missed it. :-)

done and done. both my Ampex ATR-102 decks have MR-70 Nuvistor tube preamps. both decks have direct out from the heads into the outboard preamps, one box per channel. the top pair for the 1/4" deck on the left, and the bottom pair for the 1/2" deck on the right. i have a switch behind to go back and forth. the decks and preamps are hot rodded. read the first post of the thread which describes the level of upgrades.

the MR 70 is a legendary late 60’s super deck. if you scroll down on this thread page you can read about it’s history.

here is the thread about it.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/ak-hot-rodded-ampex-atr-102s-w-mr-70-preamps-replaces-my-studers.36288/

here is a current picture with both decks and the -4- MR 70 hot rodded preamps on a rack between them. the MR 70’s surpass any newer custom output electronics.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/ak-hot-rodded-ampex-atr-102s-w-mr-70-preamps-replaces-my-studers.36288/page-6#post-874901

as great as my -3- Studer A-820’s were with the King Cello preamps, this set-up is in another realm.