Tubes?


I have Revel Salon 2 speakers. Sensitivity is about 85 db. and 4 ohms. They are power hungry speakers. Currently, I am driving them with McIntosh 601's and a McIntosh solid state preamp. I was look looking at a pair of McIntosh MC2301. They are tube amps rated at 300 watts into 2 - 8 ohm loads. I listen to all types of music (sometimes at very high levels). I never run out of power with the 601's, but I am very intrigued with tubes. This may be a misconception, but I remember some friends who played guitar saying, tube watts were louder than solid state? Perhaps this is not really true or not true regarding home stereo. Perhaps the best idea is to keep the 601's and get a good tube preamp?                          Thanks, Dave 
tobor007
Yes and for much less than $5995 you could have a Raven Osprey with even more tubey magic and being integrated save even more. But for the range the OP is in it would be a shame not to go for the Reflection. Check out willgolf who has owned one and compared with much of the world's finest and see what he has to say.  

Mozart is right, there is no comparison, the choice is which do you value most. If its numbers then SS. If its music then tubes. It really is that simple.
This is just so typical of some posters here on the 'gon.  The OP comes on looking for some reasonable advice about power amp or possibly preamp, and immediately he's told he make a big mistake and needs to get rid of his speakers.  My recommendation is to sift carefully through the information you've been given so far.  You can definitely go the beefy tube power amp route, but a lot of people find happiness with the tube preamp + SS power amp combo.  There are some sweet tube preamps out there, particularly the ones with the 6SN7 tube.  Check out some of the recent threads on the topic.
+2 twoleftears,

Lower sensitivity speakers just have to be matched.
 
Second HIGH sensitivity can lead to a high floor noise if your not careful, just depends on what your willing to listen to, and put up with.

A valve preamp, with those 601s will surprise you. There are a LOT of great sounding SS amps.  A LOT. There are a lot of great sounding valve amps, too. Dollar for dollar. GREAT amps on either side can cost a few bucks..

A pure class a  SS 30-60 watt amp will match, any 30-60 watt class a valve amp. WATT for WATT. The difference is when we turn it UP, I mean all the way up...

There is a big difference in distortion, I had Pass, Mark Livingston, Summo, and First Watt. They all preformed quite well with any valve amp I put them against. On the other hand, that was not the case when I reversed it. The valve amps, could not do the job when it came to bass performance. The distortion was through the roof...10-30% at the driver.
I've messed with 450-1200 watt of valve power, VTLs Wotons and SigII 450-750, both.  They did a good job. with a 40,000.00 price tag. AND still couldn't outperform a GOOD SS in the bass region, or above 18-19Khz.
Dollar for dollar, no way 1/4 the cost 1/10 the distortion.

Now that's something to consider. From 100 hz to 19-20 khz. I'm a valve Guy all the way, But again in the summer months, just like now. Class Ds all the way...2 months or cool night, out comes the Mac and Carys, again.

Regards