I think 77jovian basically hit the nail on the head... it’s the ‘labor & time involved’ with tube amps that are the most dissuading factors to tube amp listening. My TRL monos are best described as big, heavy, hot, multi-tube high powered monsters ... they need time, love, and attention and are the best sounding amps I’ve ever heard drive most anything. Listening to them is “an event”.
When I want to catch a “quick hour” or so it’s “Not Applicable”.... hence the need to rotate monthly (or thereabouts) with my flick-of-a-switch SS amp.. a pair of Krell FPB 350 MC monos. They give me 90% of the tubes plus the SS virtues as well and the transition takes me 20 minutes a month or so to do. I wouldn’t want it any other way. ( Speakers are rebuilt Apogee Duettas...).
When I want to catch a “quick hour” or so it’s “Not Applicable”.... hence the need to rotate monthly (or thereabouts) with my flick-of-a-switch SS amp.. a pair of Krell FPB 350 MC monos. They give me 90% of the tubes plus the SS virtues as well and the transition takes me 20 minutes a month or so to do. I wouldn’t want it any other way. ( Speakers are rebuilt Apogee Duettas...).