Why don’t tube amps sound like tubes anymore?

Agreed.  If you are going to go through the effort of buying a tube amp that is going to be more expensive and deliver less power than a similarly priced SS, what is the point if it sounds solid state?  I read and article, probably in stereophile, talking about a reviewer paying a tube amp a "compliment" saying that it sounded SS and the other reviewer effectively said that is the stupidest thing he had ever heard since tube amps are more expensive and harder to maintain. 

As someone who imports a line of tube amps, I am not about to throw stones at other companies, but I can think of a bunch of tube amps that have lost any semblance of tube sound and sound SS.  I import SETs and lower power push pulls.  My most powerful amp is a 50w mono-block in triode.  

Part of it is component design. Part of it is newer tubes and the obsession with maxing out power leading to the usage of more linear and higher power 6550s, KT88, KT120, KT150s.  But even then, I have listened to two 6550 based amps produced 15 years apart from the same company and today's 6550 amp sounded more SS than the one 15 years ago.  This is evidently what consumers want.  

If your tube amp sounds "warm and tubey," there is something wrong with it. 

I still greatly prefer the sound of tubes vs solid state.  I also prefer the current, more neutral tube sound- however you can modify that with small signal preamp and input tubes.  
The reasons I use them-
1) they give you a much larger, spacious sound stage
2) the ability to alter the tone and quality with different tubes
3) typically greater transparency
4) a more refined sound, especially in the treble.  this is a key reason for me.  the modern tube sound is still ultra smooth and refined compared to comparable solid state amps.  

Robjerman

"Back in the days of yore Peter Walker (of Quad fame) arranged a comparative listening test of a tube vs. a transistor amp. Speakers were the Quad 57's. The amps were the Quad II mono's and the 303 (SS).. 15wpc and 35wpc, respectively. Signal source was 15 IPS copies of EMI master tapes. Listeners were members of the British audio press and HiFi industry. After extensive listening to both amps the general consensus was that no difference could be heard - both amps sounded the same!"


Yes, fair enough, but SETs sound different, don't they?

When I decided to get tubed components, it was after hearing one of the more "tubey" sounding units currently on the market.  The sound was very seductive, but I had a feeling that after a while I might tire of that less than neutral sound. 

My main system consists of Rogue Audio M-180 monoblocks, Modwright LS-100 preamp, and Manley Chinook phono stage.  They are all pretty neutral, but have just enough of that "tube magic".  At some point I may go to solid state amps, but don't see the LS-100 or Chinook leaving my system any time soon. 

All of my systems have tubes in them in at least one component.  Vincent SV-237 in one system, ARC Vsi55 in another, and my bedroom system has a W4S Class D amp with an ARC LS26 preamp.