Solid State vs. Tubes - What if Transistors came first?

I got 6 count em 6 tubes in my ARC pre-amp.

This is as far as tubes got in my system.

They sound very good and different but not better than my all digital Class D integrated amp in the other system that convinced me when it comes time for the next pre-amp change the tubes may be gone altogether.

I had two mhdt DACs, similar design, one with tube output stage and one without. I still have the one with no tube. I found I was rolling tubes to get the tube DAC to sound like the non-tube one. So goodbye tube. Those looking for a softer warmer sound would have liked the tube DAC better at least for acoustic instruments but enjoyment of electronic music suffered. Different strokes......

I have one pair of small monitors that are tube friendly.   I might give that a shot someday just for something a little different.

QED. -Lee Deforest. 👌

BTW there is something to be said for the less obtrusive sound of soft clipping tube amps. Class D amps seem to commonly do that nice trick these days though as well.  As do a handful of others.


Hard versus soft clipping might be more relevant to how good gear commonly sounds in comparison than tube versus SS.  Any thoughts on that?

Jesus, how often do you encounter clipping?  -Lee Deforest. 

Glupson, my daughter is a huge fan so me and the wife are taking her for her first big concert!  Got the tx as soon as they were released online...expensive!!