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Solid states more accurate than tubes?

Ever since I changed speakers from a pair of Maggie's to Proac's, I find the tonal balance more accurate with a ss, especially acoustic wood instruments. Tubes seem to lack that tonal accuracy. I believe it's a more realistic and accurate rendering. Is that a fair assessment? I'm not arguing tubes don't sound good with it's rich, warm sound but just not as accurate. 
jaferd
randym860's avatar
randym860
131 posts
 
Some experts say all ss amps sound the same i don't believe that. Some don't like the sound of mcintosh so amps I happen to like the sound of mine. but with all the discussion about ss vs tube it still comes down to personal preference. And as others have said before it also depends on matching components to reach that personal preference.
pesky_wabbit's avatar
pesky_wabbit
1,183 posts
 
As with every component, it depends entirely upon the IMPLEMENTATION, not the categorisation. There is one well known manufacturer that has been criticised by some for producing tube amps that sound too analytical and ‚solid state‘. The reverse has been said about a few solid state manufacturers.
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
SS might be more accurate, tonal balanced, refined, dynamic,,, is my guess, anda  position held by the SS community.
Yet in my experiences and for my taste, the choice is very simple, ~~Tubes~~~ always and forever,,,= I  have no interest whatsoever to consider employing SS amplification. 
IMHO SS is old dinosaurish technology,,which we had no choice but to use back in the day,,,Maraztn, Rotel, NAD, Nachimishi, Krell. 

nahhh I ;'ll forgo  your beliefs that SS has tonal superiority, dynamics, superior sonics~~ over  my tube selection,, Yeah guess I'll hang with the tube-let-down-sound, Oh how dull and boring is the tube sound vs the spectacular, stunning, wonderful world of SS experiences..Ohh what I am missing out on.
Yeah I'll stay with the loser-tube sound.
Snakeoil buster here
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
Tube pre with SS amp is the way to go IMHO, best of both worlds if you can get the synergy right


My philosophy is stay with one or the other,, please don't mix ss with tubes. 
Not sure who started that idea,,but its time to let that belief die out. 
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Systems are about mating components.
Look at these Proac impedance graphs at Stereophile:
https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/808P28fig1.jpg
https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/610PD2fig1.jpg
https://www.stereophile.com/images/320PD2Rfig1.jpg

Proac’s could be a nightmare for some SS.
Their roller coaster impedance is not transformer ideal.

BTW, I have tube and SS amps. Tubes drive the mids & tweets on LFT-8b, both of which are near resistors. M-125s drive the mids, PL5 tweets. NuPrime ST-10 for the woofs. The M-125s are highly modified to correct factory defects. See  http://www.ielogical.com/Audio/VTA_M-125.php
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