Tube vs solid state (with all apologies)

@sokogear

Old stock tubes should last 10-20 years… especially in audio gear. Even being hauled around in guitar amplifiers (a rough life) they can last that long. Preamp tubes are sensitive to being beaten up and sometimes become microphonic. Rectifiers either work or don’t… but have minimal impact on tone. Power tubes driven hard or bias’d hot have shorter lives.

modern made tubes suck by comparison, almost regardless of the brand stamped on them. Both in tone and longevity btw.

@smolder - so if new tube amps use new tubes because they can't get a quantity large enough to standardize a model design with old stock, that further adds to the cost and complicates things as you need to shop for tubes as well.

All the more reinforcing my SS decision, not to mention the heat they produce, not being able to leave them all the time so you have to wait until they warm up to sound up to snuff, etc. etc.

I think they are fine for hobbyists who like to tinker, but they are not necessary for highest quality sound and certainly not for simplicity of operation.

@sokogear

no disagreement here. Fortunately, I have boxes of tubes (many are for tv’s unfortunately) that my father passed on when he retired. SS is surely the low maintenance way… which is what prompted the original question. Listening to my mc2100… it’s easy to hear a warmth that my Adcom does not have, in spite of both being SS.

Of course there is tremendous SQ difference among SS amps, just as with tubes, just that tubes will be substantially more expensive for a similar SQ.

I have no problem with tinkerers - I can't even fix my bicycle.

I can second every word @millercarbon wrote.  Absolutely my approach. Keep it simple. A good 'speaker with easy load and smith like 92-94dB and a high quality integrated about 40-50W is probably the easiest way to get a good enough sound for sane money.

As for the tubes, look for a good design that doesn't put much pressure on the tubes and it will last for many years trouble-free. I had several EAR Yoshinos throughout the years and never had to change a single tube. With my current LTA Z40 the tubes are running at lower current (about 1/3) and cooler than most amps. So I hope it to last for many years.