I do not think it is necessary to use tubes on horns. At Axpona this year the Avantgarde room was using an Esoteric integrated amp, 30 watts per channel with AG Duos and it sounded terrific. Perhaps others on this forum heard that room and can comment on the sound.
AG amplifier designs have all been solid state. However, in my experience a moderately priced tube amp (~$5000) will sound better than a moderately priced solid state amplifier. I drive my Trios with a Sophia integrated tube amplifier that costs under the $5000, which uses a 206 Sophia Princess output tube (a 300B hybrid) and puts out about 5 watts and sounds wonderful with a large dense sound field similar in sonic character to the Shindo tube gear. I highly recommend Sophia Electric tube amplifiers.
There is one horn system that I have heard over the last three years at Axpona which is most impressive at a price point, and that is the Sadurni horns, a three way system similar to the AG Trios. The problem is one never knows how long some of these boutique audiophile companies will stay in business.
AG amplifier designs have all been solid state. However, in my experience a moderately priced tube amp (~$5000) will sound better than a moderately priced solid state amplifier. I drive my Trios with a Sophia integrated tube amplifier that costs under the $5000, which uses a 206 Sophia Princess output tube (a 300B hybrid) and puts out about 5 watts and sounds wonderful with a large dense sound field similar in sonic character to the Shindo tube gear. I highly recommend Sophia Electric tube amplifiers.
There is one horn system that I have heard over the last three years at Axpona which is most impressive at a price point, and that is the Sadurni horns, a three way system similar to the AG Trios. The problem is one never knows how long some of these boutique audiophile companies will stay in business.