@hilde45 OP175 posts02-23-2020 2:10pm@decooney Good to know. The match I’ll need advice on, if I go this way. You’re tempted by the Pass? Wouldn’t that be abandoning tubes? Hmmm. Probably should stick with one god if you’re a monotheist.
For less money, 1/2 the price, I’ve been able to get amazing 3-dimensional, lush, dynamic (engaging) sound out of very simple design mono tube amps with the right transformers, designed to run KT150 output tubes. Before and after Mosfet SS amps, I was an EL34 tube midrange freak. Now with current KT150 tubes (in the right amp/circuit design) changed the game for me to stay "tube". IMO: those who just put KT150 tubes in a KT88 based amps don’t compare. My amps mainly run KT150s, designed just for KT150s. When biased correctly, all the sudden my Pentode tubes sound like Triode sound with power and dynamics I prefer. The designer is really on to something. Once I added vintage mid 1960s NOS triode Mullard input and driver tubes I was sold, done, game over! The result is quite astonishing and works well with my particular speakers. Again, "matching".
As to your question:
For equivalent solid state amplification "that sound like tube" (for the appropriate speaker/power/impedance i need) I’ve confirmed I’d actually spend 2.5x on the amps alone. Typically I build everything myself, yet in this case and (abilities of my own) I truly respect and recognize the mastermind amplifier gurus who offer something you just gotta buy and enjoy it as is, made by locals in the good old USA. :)