Mid-fi tube vs high-end SS

Why is any man eating another man poison? "Man poison again, damn." Pool house, game room...I compel all of the help including my valet to listen to mediocre systems, and in the evening they just avoid me...could be the tubes or maybe it's me...

There are now a bunch of amps the Coda Amplifier U.S.A retail before-discounts $6 k 

then class D   T&A from Germany is very good around $5k just a sample of the next tier  in quality best in class .

take a slight step up from mid fi to high value tube amps, e.g. the rogue audio cronus magnum integrated or atlas magnum and stereo 100 power amplifiers. these robust powerful tube amps have transparency, dynamics and refinement that cannot be topped by solid state amplifiers unless one spends thousands more and picks the right one. roll in some nos small signal tubes and you up the ante along with a sound stage that few solid state amps can match unless fronted by a very good tube preamplifier.  my experiences.  

Hello Sam, I’ve been in hifi audio for over 30 yrs and have heard so much nonsense from people,  I sometimes can’t believe what people write. Some important things I’ve discovered throughout the yrs. Your question about changing from a tube amp to SS can only be answered by knowing the rest of your system and why or exactly are you looking to improve in sound.  I personally have never found SS to sound better than a well designed tube amplifier in the areas of engagement and transparency.  I do find SS to be more accurate but it lacks the air and ultimate 3D dimensionality tubes give. I only use SS amps for systems that require it’s power. I’ve found that SS amps cannot sound warm and very transparent at the same time whereas tube amps can.  So, from a person as myself who has various systems setup in my home of very high quality components of both SS amps and tubes, my opinion would be to stick with your tube amplifier if it runs your speakers fine. If you have problems with power in your present system, you could try a Class A SS.   I run a pair of Class A SS mono block Threshold amps on my Electrostats speakers and even though the sound is very pure and transparent, I must admit, my 300b, EL34 and 805 power tube amps have something special in immediacy and engagement that SS do not have.  Why don’t you borrow of purchase a high quality Class A SS amp and do an AB comparison with your tube amp.  You should notice that the SS will sound more accurate which might lead you to believe it’s more transparent but take notice to which design engages you more and which draws you into the the music better. See which gives you a more 3D dimensional soundstage and which design throws the soundstage out further in the room, not just behind the speakers but out towards you and even behind your listening position.  I wish you a lot of luck in building a system that brings happiness to you. Throughout the years, I’ve learn the hard way that building  a great sounding system is not about spending a lot of money but about a lot of hard work and research and help. 

@lowtubes 

Why don’t you borrow of purchase a high quality Class A SS amp and do an AB comparison with your tube amp.  You should notice that the SS will sound more accurate which might lead you to believe it’s more transparent but take notice to which design engages you more and which draws you into the the music better. See which gives you a more 3D dimensional soundstage and which design throws the soundstage out further in the room, not just behind the speakers but out towards you and even behind your listening position.

This is exactly the kind of wise, experienced, helpful comment that keeps this forum vital and worth reading. Thank you, lowtubes!