SET Lovers, what's the one solid state amp you love(d)?

@atmasphere I replaced my tube amps with a class D amp and no downside in my system- its just as smooth and revealing as the tubes were- no harshness or brightness and good bass impact. I’m really convinced that tube power amplifiers are on life support; why have one when you can have an amp that sounds better in every way and not have to deal with tube issues??

Based on questions from friends, many still rotating and hoarding tube amps and tubes - I’m still seeing some success with simple tube amplifiers paired non-exotic output tubes. The tube amps with less expensive and available opt tubes I mean.

In your case with exciting class-D amp success, does this somehow suggest you are eventually planning on shutting down your tube amp manufacturing side of the business, i.e. "are on life support"?

First Watt SIT-3. I mostly use my Coincident Frankenstein Mk.II 300b monoblocks The SIT-3 is also enjoyable! It has that nice SET type of sound, but isn't fleshed out as much in the midrange. For a solid state amp it is really great with a grain free presentation and nice tonality.

It works best with speakers between 4 and 8 ohms.

Just read coachpoconnor comments and agree wholeheartedly! I also have a Supratek preamp and synergy with both amps are excellent! 

The SIT-3 doesn't have much gain, so it is best with a Preamp that has gain on the higher side. 

In your case with exciting class-D amp success, does this somehow suggest you are eventually planning on shutting down your tube amp manufacturing side of the business, i.e. "are on life support"?

@decooney That depends on sales. But if we can make a class D sound as good as tubes I suspect others can too. But there are other issues that anyone dealing with tube amps should think about. We all know about the war, which has increased tube prices worldwide.

But there is also the fact that class D is making its way into the guitar world. I'm not talking about those cheap 'modeling' amps either- but good quality class D amps, often with a tube input section. They might make 50 to 200 Watts and weigh under 20 pounds. Many guitar players these days do not rely on the overdrive sound of their amps for their unique 'sound'; they get that from their effect pedals instead. So a guitar amplifier these days doesn't have to be a 100 Watt Marshall.

Its happening slowly right now. But as more class D product makes it into the guitar world, tube sales in that market will dwindle. Audiophiles may not realize it, but tube sales worldwide are driven by the guitar market, not the home audio market. In ten years I suspect the guitar world will look a lot different- if you have a 50 Watt guitar amp, its a big deal that it might weigh only 15 pounds instead of 75!!

@atmasphere Thanks for the note. All makes sense, and as they say, we’ll see how it goes. I’ve been following Class D for the past decade. A few buddies who play guitars switched with a few holdouts still running tube for lead guitars.

On a related note, I remember when the HD Radio tuners came out, people went out and bought them. Folks got fired up, we’d see note’s how the conventional FM radio tuners were dead forever!!! Outta here!, blah blah. HD radio and streaming came to automobiles too. Quite a change for the auto and audio industry. Seemed to make sense in autos for sure. For home use, a few holdouts still liking old FM more. When HD radio came out it seemed like it was still missing something.

While owning both, from time to time I still fire up the conventional Magnum Dynalab FM radio tuner. And what’s odd is how conventional FM radio still sounds as wonderful as ever. There are times I actually prefer its sound over today’s streaming for a different type of listening. Reminds me of tube amps and what is at question here.

Also watching closely how people some buy the latest generation of Class D from AGD, NAD, Atma, and others claiming its "there" now, and then how many of those same folks put them up for sale and return to Tube based amps again a year or two later. Very interesting to see how this continues to unfold next 2-5 years.Got the mono block tube amps playing great music and close to 3D type sound as I type this now.

Hey, maybe if everyone else goes Class D, there will be a glutt of tube amps and supply of tubes out there for the rest of us diehard holdouts to pick up for a great price. Wishful thinking maybe, and looking forward to it either way, good times! :)