Jax2/Marco,
I've heard enough quality SS and tube equipment on good speakers to understand the differences between the two. I've decided on tubes because of their warmth and the "life" they breath into music.
I listen to all sorts of music, including jazz, bluegrass, classic rock, indie rock, and even some techno and metal. For the most part, I listen at relatively modest volumes. However, on occasion, I like to rock the house down.
Maximum volume isn't really a "criteria" for my decision. I've already heard enough equipment to know that the tube sound is what I want for 75% of my listening habits. What I'm after here is whether tubes can play loudly enough to satisfy the other 25% of my listening. I understand that for loud listening SS is better (having always owned SS equipment), but given that it accounts for such a small percentage of my listening habits, I'm willing to sacrifice some quality at high volumes as long as it's loud. For the other 75% of my lower-volume listening, I much prefer tubes over SS. Note that I said SOME loss of quality at high volumes. I don't want it to sound like a giant pile...
More specifically, what I want to know is whether a tube amp in my $1500 price range can accomplish what I want (with proper speaker mating) or whether I need to wait until I can afford something more powerful.
-Chris
I've heard enough quality SS and tube equipment on good speakers to understand the differences between the two. I've decided on tubes because of their warmth and the "life" they breath into music.
I listen to all sorts of music, including jazz, bluegrass, classic rock, indie rock, and even some techno and metal. For the most part, I listen at relatively modest volumes. However, on occasion, I like to rock the house down.
Maximum volume isn't really a "criteria" for my decision. I've already heard enough equipment to know that the tube sound is what I want for 75% of my listening habits. What I'm after here is whether tubes can play loudly enough to satisfy the other 25% of my listening. I understand that for loud listening SS is better (having always owned SS equipment), but given that it accounts for such a small percentage of my listening habits, I'm willing to sacrifice some quality at high volumes as long as it's loud. For the other 75% of my lower-volume listening, I much prefer tubes over SS. Note that I said SOME loss of quality at high volumes. I don't want it to sound like a giant pile...
More specifically, what I want to know is whether a tube amp in my $1500 price range can accomplish what I want (with proper speaker mating) or whether I need to wait until I can afford something more powerful.
-Chris