Tube vs solid state (with all apologies)

All told, I guess I'm just a tube guy. I loved my genuine Pre-CBS Vibrolux dearly. With my Custom Shop "Pre-CBS" Fender Telly plugged into it, it gave me the finest twang in existence. It made my Les Paul roar. I sold the Vibrolux to a buddy who was more into playing than I was and replaced it with a tubed Carr Rambler, an amp that gives me a bit more flexibility than the Vibrolux did, but which still has 90% of the Vibrolux's tone. On the stereo side there were the Quicksilver Mono Amps, and now the PrimaLuna. It's not that I don't like trannies, it's just that I like what I got and I'm just not into shuffling stuff around any more.

I once used an in for repair long time loaner VOX AC30 as the amp and speaker combo for my turntable with a Linn solid state RIAA amp. That rocked! 

There are pros and cons with each, and each situation is different, so there are no absolutes here. Obviously guitar amps and hifi amps are completely different animals with different objectives (a fact that should not to be overlooked), but for hifi use I just have not been able to replicate the sound I like with SS, so I go with tubes, and likely always will.

Not sure I’d be as picky about the sound of a guitar amp, but it’s understandable that folks who play want a certain sound. Always best to just go with what you like.

Smolder, tubes are a PITA. There is some variability between tubes and performance may not be consistent. Some people love playing with their equipment and like seeing things glow. Others do not want to be hassled. Tube rolling is an expensive way of driving yourself crazy. There is some excellent tube gear out there. There is tube gear that sounds very solid stateish, There is solid state gear that sounds very tubeish. The difference in sonics is not near as dramatic as with instrument amplifiers where the amp is really part of the instrument.

@smolder -

If you get the RIGHT tube amp (and there are many) you will be happy

• you can try different tubes - tube rolling - to tailor the sound
• Manley make some nice amps, but there are many others
• My foray into tubes was a disaster, but I relied on the retailer - not good,
• tubes can be amazing, but they do get quite hot
• Ask for opinions on this forum for brands

Solid State - again, choose wisely

• I chose a NAIM amp once and while I liked the sound very much, having to replace all the caps after 10 years I thought was unreasonable
• I now own a Bryston, which comes with a 20 year warranty (i.e. from the date of manufacture) and it has a similar tone to the NAIM, which I like a lot, but with more details, clarity and punch
• There are several solid state designs now available, e.g. high current and symmetrically balanced - each have their quirks
• Some high current solid state amps do not like speaker cables that have a high capacitance, which can result in component failure - tubes do not suffer from this problem
• again, there are many awesome solid state amps out there, so ask for opinions on this forum for brands

Cables are important, perhaps more so with solid state amps.

• power cables can make a difference, but as you move up in amp quality, you have to also use higher quality cables
• Speaker cables can make or break the sound of any amp and can impact dynamics, details, clarity and imaging, so choose them wisely and you’ll save a bundle
• Since you’ve built amps you might want to take a look at this link for DIY cables - My Audio Alchemy (image99.net) - BTW, if you have any questions just ask

If possible get out to stores and listen for yourself - I trust my ears much more than magazine reviews. And don’t be afraid to ask them to connect different amps and speakers.

• I have no shame in requesting that a $600 bluesound streamer be connected to an $80,000 system. It sounded very nice :-)

Good luck with your quest - there is no right or wrong - just as long as you are happy :-)

Regards - Steve