Tube sound is not about warmth. It's about correct presentation.


Agreed ? Disagreed ? Both ?

 

 

inna

I feel that “warmth” is an over used term.  My experience is that tube amplification sounds more organic.  The sound stage is more of what you may expect to hear with live music.  This organic quality comes with imperfections like hum and pops and little odd twinges. Some may find these imperfections to be too distracting and so SS is a better fit for their tastes since it feels cleaner.

Of course. More organic, more natural, closer to reality.

It always upsets me when I hear that some speakers are intentionally made to sound their best with SS. In my book this is a very wrong approach and I will never consider such speakers.

SS is kind of digital, in a manner of speaking. Tape and vinyl are not perfectly quiet yet they are superior.

Tubes are simply more interesting maybe. They glow...if a transistor amp glows start looking for traces of smoke and try to remember where the fire extinguisher is. Tube guitar amps still rule that roost, but hey...my Pass XA-25 is in a constant battle with a single ended Had tube amp my earball's attention. Swap them whenever I feel like it and I'm somehow always in the fun zone. Bi-tubular? 

...for those of us with 'aged' hearing, 'organic high frequency roll-off', one can have all the warmth one can stand and then some...

Adding my aids adds an interesting conundrum:

Would the digital items in my ears effect my realization of 'warmth' from a totally A system, represented front to drivers considered to be 'A friendly'?

Since I'm SS from front to amp, and of no pretense of whether or not my choice of speakers would have any....'preference' in their presentation....?

I occasionally think 'warmth' is the F temperature of the studio or hall of the recording.....but I'm just kidding about that....*s*

I can relate to @mahgister's comment of prejudice, but feel it's more of a 'preference'...🤷‍♂️

Re 'hybrids'....tube pre>ss amp v. ss pre>tube amp....what would seem to occur?

Curious minds out on the limb....😏