So where should the tubes be?

Tubes should be where you amplify an analogue signal. 

" but extend it into amps with speakers that mate."

Say what?

@pauly

"I prefer them in the pre and phono stage at minimum but extend it into amps with speakers that mate."......

I am simply saying when the choice of speakers mate with a tube amps ability to drive them I will extend tube use and introduce a tube amp into the mix.
If speakers too demanding, SS is used for the amp. Sorry, thought mating speakers and amp was pretty basic needed thinking...

@three_easy_payments well played sir!

@has2be 

I was just busting your balls as the term “mate” is often used to describe the activity that results in producing offspring. Matching is a more political correct term. 

I have  2wpc SEP and  3.5wpc SET amplifiers so speaker matching is something I am very familiar with. Many people don’t have appropriate speakers for their tube amps and then conclude tube amplifiers to be inferior.

Regards


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