Yeah, I went back, and it was a mistake. My first truly high end amp was the wonderful McCormack DNA-1. Good as it was, it wasn't quite as good as the Aronov integrated, so out it went. Which btw this was also when I realized tube watts are greater than SS watts, because the 60 wpc Aronov sounded every bit as powerful as the 150 wpc McCormack.
After 10 years or so though when the Aronov started blowing fuses I started thinking maybe it would be nice not having an amp you have to keep replacing tubes. I tried something, forget what it was, some SS integrated Class A type amp. Nothing but problems! More problems than tubes! Which at least with tubes they sound so good its worth putting up with a few problems. With SS though its always something. Not problems, usually they are totally reliable. Problems with the way they sound. There just aren't any that can hold a candle to a good tube amp.
So out went the SS and this time in went the Melody I880 another 50 wpc integrated. I'd almost forgotten what a good tube amp sounds like! Not quite as awesome bass control or deep liquid stage as the Aronov, but awful close, and with a normal stepped attenuator and way more reliable it has given me zero troubles in nearly a dozen years now.
Would I ever go back again? Never say never but in this case probably no, never.
