In my experience, tubes- regardless of measurement criteria- present the music in a different and better way. There's more reality there, simply put.
I've owned very great SS stuff that I loved. But when a Cary SLI-80 gave me more musical satisfaction than my $8,000 SS pre and amp, I snapped to attention. Every tube amp I've owned since then has reinforced the notion that there's something there that measurements don't quite capture.
Bottom line- there's a reason tubes are still around- and it ain't measurement criteria. It's music, pure and simple.
I write this as I listen to my tube Exemplar CD player through my Yamamoto HA2 SET headphone amp and AT headphones, spinning the remastered Beggar's Banquet on ABKCO.
Tubes are staying in my house!
I've owned very great SS stuff that I loved. But when a Cary SLI-80 gave me more musical satisfaction than my $8,000 SS pre and amp, I snapped to attention. Every tube amp I've owned since then has reinforced the notion that there's something there that measurements don't quite capture.
Bottom line- there's a reason tubes are still around- and it ain't measurement criteria. It's music, pure and simple.
I write this as I listen to my tube Exemplar CD player through my Yamamoto HA2 SET headphone amp and AT headphones, spinning the remastered Beggar's Banquet on ABKCO.
Tubes are staying in my house!