Tubes? Transistors? Which are better?

Hi Will; First, I really enjoyed my time with the SF Power 2, and I now know that I could be happy with a good tube amp long term. The mid-range was great, and for a tube amp the bass was good, but after 3 wks. when I changed back to the DNA2, the differences just really jumped out at me. As I have some HF hearing loss (where tubes also excel), I think that makes bass more important to me. I also was surprised that the DNA2 did low volume listening better-- I do think this is an exceptional SS amp, just too bad it wasn't reviewed by STPH to get it more exposure. I use a SF Line 2 pre-amp, and really believe strongly in tube pre-amps. But for amps, I seem to have come down squarely and happily in the solid state camp-- so much so that I'm going to have my DNA-2DXs converted to monos-- Steve McCormack told me the monos would do low level detail even better. Cheers. Craig.

Garfish, perhaps you should investigate different tube amps. The various brands all have different sonic signatures. From solid state sounding, to as warm and sweet as honey. And EVERYTHING in between. Have you read the Sam Tellig review of a McCormack amp in Stereophile last month? Even Steve McCormack prefers the sounds of tubes(Ray Charles could read between those lines). But he designs solid state products because he likes the fact that the sound does not change over the long term. In my opinion, a solid state amp does degrade, just not as noticeable or as fast as with a tube amp. My father's Lafayette receiver(yes, it is in his number one system) needs to be completely gone through(dried out caps, etc.). And, in my opinion a well made tube amp can last a lifetime(witness Marantz, McIntosh, Leak, etc.). But, if your McCormack is the key to your listening bliss, God bless you.

Hi Trelja; I appreciate and understand your advice and really would like to try different tube amps, but as I live out in the boondocks, trying different equipment in my system can be an expensive hassle. And then too, I really do like S. McCormacks amps-- they have terrific bass, not deep and boomy, but quick, tight, rhythmic, and natural. I did see S. McCormacks comments about tubes and was a bit surprised. Cheers. Craig.

i think there's an inneresting dichotomy here - w/tubed amps, ya gotta spend a *lot* of money to get a total sound as good as reasonably-priced solid-state amps. (craig, mebbe the s-f power three wooda done it for ya). and, i tink yust the opposite is true w/preamps - ya gotta spend a *lot* of money to get a solid state preamp w/a total sound as good as a more reasonably-priced tob preamp.

one person's opinion... doug

You know Doug I think maybe it comes down more to taste and what’s important to the individual listener. I remember back when I owned my last ss amp, a Threshold S300. Within 2 years of purchasing that amp, I bought a used pair of McIntosh MC-60's which stock were OK but still notably more palpable in the midrange than the Threshold. The Threshold revealed more of the detail at the frequency extremes and probably even in the midrange but it didn't have the tube magic. My wife heard it as well, right away most notably on vocal recordings. I was using a CJ all tube pre-amp at the time. Then I had some quite extensive mods done to the Macs including new filter caps, wiring, star grounding, changed a few resistor values to improve the highs and the sound improved another few notches notably in the bass and highs. Less classic tube colorations yet no loss of midrange magic. I have listened over the years to many different ss amps and everytime I listen regardless of make or model or what they do well, they have less of a "thereness" or "palpable presence" as Sam Tellig likes to say. This effect may be more or less important to some. I equate it to more real. Whether it be a coloration or rounding of the sound is not important to me. I am less analytical when listening to music and go with what makes the music more involving. Tube amps as well as pre-amps makes music come alive to a greater extent than the detailed sound I hear with ss. I feel quite certain I could live with a ss amp for a while. I further suspect after a period of time if I put a tube amp back in the system I would end up in the same place I am now. Anyone want to lend me their Levinson or Boulder to prove my theory? What is better, vanilla or chocolate?