Anyone permanently convert from tubes to SS?

All my life I loved tubes and even today I have tube preamplifier. However, my speakers sound the best with high powered amplifier so I had to look everythere.
My choice in power amp is Spectron Musician III - with midrange same as the best tube amplifiers I ever heard. On other hand its not SS amp either, its class D.

If I would have a horn speaker I would use tube SET amp.

I suggest you to read excellent article on this sugject:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0708/index.html

All The Best
Rafael

Even though the Spectron is a class D amp it is still solid state.

"Even though the Spectron is a class D amp it is still solid state"

How so? Congress decided or you, personally?
- shred of evidence, suggestion, a clue would be most welcome

If you want to say that pulse modulation is made by two transistors then please don't - they are, at least in Spectron, out of signal pathway and out of power supply too. Its not amplification device (as transistor or tube are in transistor or tube amps) - nor do you have transistor's pattern of distortions (0.0000%)

so...?

Dob, I am slightly confused. . . if class D or T switching amps are not solid state, what are they supposed to be. . . if anyone has designed a new classification, I am not yet aware of it. Please enlighten us.

Hello Guido,

I am not the expert in classifications. For example you use terms class D / class T and I believe that the later is just invention of the marketing division of currently defunct Tripath corporation. Read about the subject in the article by Bruno Putzeys, Chief Engineer Class D Audio at Philips Digital Systems Labs: http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/amplifiers/digital_classD_amplifiers.html

If you are amazed "if class D or T switching amps are not solid state..." then its your burden to prove that they are solid state amps not mine.

In my mind, difference between tube and transistor amps is only in what device is used for amplification: tube or transistor. (Both incedently can use diode rectifier in power supply). From all class D amps I know - not a single uses transistor or tube as amplification device.

I thought that the author of the thread did not care if display, say for example, run by transistors or horses or whatever.

I thought the thread is about SONIC characteristics such as dynamic range, type of distortions of both types of the amps.

I frankly do not care about anything else but sound; and YES current Spectron Musician III Mk2 sounds like the best tube amplifiers in the world and with iron clad control over speakers which a very few solid state show and yet does not have any in its signal path or power supply (except diode-rectifier).

Also if you noted Spectron advertises its amps, here on Audiogon BOTH in solid state AND tube amplfier sections.

I am out of this discussion.

All The Best
Rafael