Mid-fi tube vs high-end SS


Hello everyone. I am new here but not new to audio. I’ve been meaning to buy a high-end permanent SS amp for 2 years now. But not sure how much improvement I can get.

 

A little about what I have. I use a high-quality tube amp I bought for around $1,500. 55 watts per channel Class A. With upgraded tubes it’s a little over $2,000. The amp I have is the Musical Paradise mp-501 I’ll link below. Using upgraded Kt-170 tubes along with some nos 5693 red tubes and 717-a tubes.

 

My audio knowledge and listen ability has improved substantially these past few years thanks partly to this tube amp. Sorry for the long-winded intro. My actual question is, how much improvement should I expect going from this tube amp to something high-end SS like the Gato 150 and the incredible DVA M225? Very little reviews on the Gatos, I’m hoping I could get some help here, even anything about the Gato 150 from users would be helpful. Ty

 

https://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=55

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jerryg123

2,798 posts

 

@secretguy and I have done the opposite.  I like SS for the pool house, game room and shop. Listening to SS right now in my office class A. 

Only listen with tubes when doing critical listening in the evening. 

One man's food is another man poison. 

Indeed. I will say that my SS reached deeper than my tubes did.

86 db sensitivity @ 6 ohms is not the easiest load to drive. Especially if the speaker dips lower in certain frequency ranges. May want to acquire a SS amp that can haul the mail @ 4 ohms. 

You are doing the right thing moving to a solid state amp. Why not add a nice tube preamp if you must do tubes..Keep in mind that tubes are going to get harder to find as time goes on, especially since there are now two new strains of omicron viruses circulating The goverment will require again that everyone wears a mask.This is further going to raise havoc on supply and demand.