Affordable SS that sound like Tubes

My example is via headphones. I sold my $7k RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp which was glorious. I replaced that with the $800 Class A Schitt Aegir amp + Benchmark preamp, It was about 90% as good as the VM-1a.

I already had the LA4 preamp for my 2-channel setup, so I leveraged that for both 2-channel and headphones. For some preceptive, my CODA #16 amp on the same headphone setup is about 90% as good as the VM-1a on the phones. That is an amazing compliment for the Aegir to be equally good in this setup.

The Aegir is only 20 watts @ 8 Ohms. For my headphone needs it is spectacular. If I had a very easy to drive speaker, I would want to test it out with the Aegir.

BTW - I think it is impossible for any 2-channel amp to equal the VM-1a. There is an adapter needed for any 2-chanel amp to connect to the RAAL phones and none  is needed for the VM-1a.

@tonydennison I have wrote about the Neurochrome and Pass BK1, KB1 a few times over the Years.

The Pass Pre-Amp’ has a Korg Nutube incorporated which is a very modern version of a Tetrode Valve and is claimed to have a 30 000 hour usage life.

I know this Pre-Amp very well, I also am quite familiar with it produced as a non-standard build guise. I have a design of it built for myself and is awaiting to be completed when I make the bespoke casings being produced available.

As a standard build it held its own against very expensive Branded Pre-Amp's as a non-standard build, the cost difference between the Pass and the comparison Pre's make the idea of the Pass Pre-Amp' a no-brainer.

I have been demo'd the Neurochrome in an approx' £200 000 System in comparisons with Power Amplification getting close to £50 000 for SS, where both Branded Model SS and Valve Power Amp's were included in the Demo's.

A 211 Valve Power Amp was used at approx' £30 000.

There is absolutely nothing from my perspective to suggest the Neurochrome fell short in any way, and it was able to deliver the impression it was as relaxing and enjoyable to experience as any Valve Amp I have a familiarity with. 

I have been demo'd on a regular occasions the Pass BK1 + differing build guises > Neurochrome 86 and it is as enjoyed through recollection as when I heard the Soulution 525 > Neurochrome 286 used in demo's alongside the 525 > and much more expensive Power Amp's.     

Earlier you said your Mac Mini is used only as NAS. Now you’re saying it is connected to the DAC via USB cable.
NAS = Network Area Storage, would mean that your DAC would be accessing the data stored on Mac Mini by means of a network connection. And that isn’t how you have it all set up. 
So in the end, you are using the Mini as a streamer. Let me repeat what I said earlier - Mac Mini sucks as a streamer. If you like the sound of your current amplification, focus on upgrading your source. Your digital front end is far from optimized. 

OK you might think I’m crazy but the $750 Rega Io

this little amplifier is absolutely spectacular for the money!

It’s only 30 watts, but I can power fairly large speakers and just about any bookshelf because it has a lot of current. I loved mine. It does sound like tubes.

I owned the PrimaLuna EVO 400 preamp and power amp combo and really liked it. I wanted to go back to SS gear that had a tube sound.

That said, the PrimaLuna was replaced with a Luxman L509X integrated which came very close to a tube amplifier. Then, I decided to go back to separates and I currently have the Holo Audio Serene KTE preamp and a Parasound JC5 amp. The JC5 amp is a sweet sounding amp which comes close to a tube sound, but I haven’t heard a SS amp that sounded just like tubes. It may exist, but I haven’t heard one yet. I do highly recommend the Parasound JC5 amp because it’s a lot of bang for the buck. They can be found for a good price on the used market and I recommend you try to audition one if you can. The Music Room may have a few and they allow about 30 days to audition. That’s where I bought mine from.

Lastly, in my experience, it’s all about system synergy. So, the preamp will play a part in what the SS amp will sound like in your setup and of course, your speakers.