That "tube sound" and power ratings

I've said it before, but it bears repeating even if I'm the only one who believes it: Tube amps make you a better person, they display signs of life in their glowing hot little selves, and SS amps that just sit there like a metal lump of "meh" are far less interesting regardless of how they sound, unless they have some sort of fluctuating meter on them in which case I give 'em a pass (no pun intended). A home run amp I heard recently was a Rogers (there are others) that had tubes AND a meter...a goal for all tube amps to strive for.

Atmasphere. Thanks for clarifying Peak vs Av.

Orpheus10- I almost skimmed past your post. Most helpful - thank you.

"That's definitely true that in the studio it's processing the signal - but at home, tube amps are often doing the same thing. It is a form of distortion. Not all tube based systems distort this way, but I do see lots of listeners using underpowered amps for the speakers they have."

Just to clarify, I was talking in general theory as to what is expected of a home stereo. Reproduce the original event as accurately as possible, etc... You've heard it all before. I wasn't suggesting that everybody approaches their system that way. There's the 2 extremes, and most people are somewhere in the middle.

"Tubes are a great way to emotionally get close to the music - I think of tubes as a way to create an illusion that performers are in the room with you - but I never think of this as accurate or neutral - but it can be very involving..."

Why not? When you go see live music, do you expect it to be accurate, neutral and not emotionally involving? lol. I know I do. I want it to sound just like my stereo system at home.

Zd- say again? Just that last paragraph - not sure what you mean.