Is solid state on the brink of extinction?


I am curious how many out there, like me, that have come to the conclusion the age of solid state, and perhaps tube gear, is closing.

In freeing needed cash from my high end audio recently, I was forced to look for a less expensive alternative. To my surprise, the alternative turned out to be an unexpected bonus.

I have notoriously inefficient speakers. I was sure I would have to sell them once I sold off my large solid state blocks.

Going on a tip from another amp killer speaker owner, I bought an Acoustic Reality eAR 2 MKII Class D amp. This tiny amp caused a revolution in sound benefits over my ss mono blocks.

My speakers gained in speed, depth, control, detail, range, clarity, and dynamics.

It didn't stop there. I also sold my front end, and bought a very cheap programmable digital DVD. It also proved to be better that my old disc player. My playback gained in detail, separation, depth, bass control, bass extension, and treble extension. The mids are just plain natural. Reverberation decay occurs evenly and naturally.

Has anyone else had a similar experience of moving from solid state or tubes to digital? What do you see as the future for solid state component producers? What of tube amps?
muralman1
Rgcards, the B&O store here in Pasadena actually already had the Beolab 5s so I was able to audition them, albeit in a smallish showroom fronted by components heavier on form than function. But I was still very impressed much to my surprise and perhaps even chagrin, much like you. My understanding is that they use 4 different class D ICEmodules per speaker each customized for the particular driver to which it is driving. I think that is the future especially when SPDIF/PCM can be transmitted directly to the digitally optimized self powered speaker (so long Nordost Valhallas, thank you very much) converting to analog at the last available juncture. B&O has had the most experience with really well designed class D amps (since 1999) and isn't it interesting that they chose to apply their technology to self-powered speakers rather than free-standing amps.
I've had a chance to listen to several recent class D amps (Bel Canto, PS Audio, Spectron) and I will again say that I was surprised. There is an impressive price/performance ratio here, one that can only be good for the high end: transistors have goaded tubes into never sounding better; CD players have resurrected turntables, now arguably "ne plus ultra" front ends, and I'm sure the first well-executed class D amps will bring the stratospheric pricing of the status quo more into the line of the earthbound.
For what it's worth, the finest SS amps I have auditioned in my home so far have been the Halcro dm 58s, the Classe CAM 350 monoblocs, mono-bridged BEL 1001 MkVs and the Hovland Radia, the latter being my ultimate choice, mostly for my wife who prefers its sound for her remixes as she VJs for the private club scene here. Not to worry, the JA 100s standby, fired up and ready for when she returns seeking solace from the fray. Guess what her favotite amp is?
Iseekheils, your moniker is so trippy I have to ask what it connotes. Are you seeking Heils for Hitler or lamenting the demise of the eponymous speaker? Or maybe an odd phonetic rendering of Ezekiel? Whatever the case you should definitely mod your HCA-2s, especially with a tube driver input stage. Then again you could always buy something unheard, hyped, and "factory direct". After all "they're your Euros" as my alliterative Scandinavian associates are so kind to remind us "New Worlders".
Hey Khrys, would you be so kind as to post more detailed impressions of the class D and T amps you have heard? I'd love to hear them compared to the top notch SS stuff you have auditioned in your home, e.g. in terms of:
-frequency response at extremes
-midrange
-soundstaging
-dynamics
-subjective appeal/'musicality'
-or anything else
Khrys, I am the happy owner of a pair of "heils, ESS AMT 1 Towers, that I bought in the 70's. For a while I was "seeking" another pair, here and on ebay. But since ESS is still in business, I bought some speakers direct. I will also be purchasing a pair of their AMT's, so I can build a pair of speakers to bi-amp.
The guys at UHF magazine, after reviewing the Kithara, said that if they were going to build a cost no object speaker system, that they would build it around a heil.
I agree, and I'm going to try, within my budget. Hope this answers your query. Long live Oscar!
Sonny (not my real name either)
Calanctus, the Tripath Bel Cantos sounded bad on Quad 988s and Jadis Eurhythmies but not too bad on my W/P 7s. The HCA-2 and Spectron Musician II sounded very good on all transducers auditioned and startled me with their performance. For the money I don't think you can beat the Spectron. But for sheer musicality the Radia takes the cake, easily. But I must say that the Quad 988s powered by bridged-mono Hovland Sapphires lit my wick recently as well.