I have the Hawks driven by a Classe CAP-150 integrated. They are considered very musical speakers with no dryness/harshness to them - also not the most senstitive - so that seems to favor solid state. Was also specifically told by my reputable dealer that they need some power to sound their best. I have noticed however that this set-up is highly critical of poorly produced music ie. most Alison Krauss, Pink Floyd, Nora Jones, well-done jazz recordings sound magical, while a lot of run of the mill rock/alternative is tough to listen to for very long. I think this is true of most mid/high-end set-ups. Having said that, I am actually considering experimenting with a tube preamp in front of my Classe to see if it eases that issue. Best advice - find a dealer that will let you audition both SS and tube gear in your price range with your recordings and source component(s) and the speakers. Sorry if this creates more questions than it answers.
