Anyone has a reference system where amplification is SS ?

The secret is to biamp your system. Use tubes for the upper drivers and solid state mega power for bass drivers.

This is a true reference system if done properly.

What the hell is a reference system anyway. Does it mean it's better or just something you reference to for comparative purposes. My $2500 system is a reference system as anything I add to it makes it sound different allowing me too appreciate any changes made.  If you have a really expensive system sometimes it's difficult to discern differences by swapping in and out components. And then of course the quality of the recording is another factor that makes it more complicated and speaks to the need for reference Music, which no one really talks about.

The secret is to biamp your system. Use tubes for the upper drivers and solid state mega power for bass drivers.

This is a true reference system if done properly.

@emergingsoul

this will be a source of incoherence in a reference system, unless the signal for the solid state amp on the bottom octaves gets it’s signal from the speaker terminal of the higher octave speakers. the bass amp needs to be very neutral, and then mimic the presentation of the tube amp on top.

if you desire a reference system. in lesser systems, not critical. lots of people do this, of course. which does not change the reality of it's limitations.

BTW; this is exactly how my speakers work. my darTZeel amps are on my passive speaker towers, and my active bass towers get their signal from the speaker terminal of the passive towers. then if i use a tube amp, which i have done, the bass gets that character to sound ’of a piece’.

it all depends on your expectations for a seamless coherent presentation. when you push the system, every amp acts slightly differently. you need things to stay of a piece with appropriate balance and feel at all musical points.

the odds of happening to find a tube amp and solid state amp acting exactly the same no matter the SLP’s are very very remote. not saying impossible. improbable.

@mikelavigne 

This is a very thoughtful response and have to read it very carefully. Hoping I can learn something.

Yes I Believe you have an extremely awesome, very extremely awesome, System in a very very beautiful room. You could make a lot of money selling tickets to people for a visit to your room. How lucky for those people to be in your room and how lucky for you too.

micelavigne I agree withemergingsoul that your system is a masterpiece  of thought and effort. It it is a good thing you have only 10 years involved and not 20 years otherwise you might need a bigger room.

Folks this all subjective and there are no right or wrong answers in regards to the question put forth in this thread.

Well, except for inna, where he/she does specify a right and wrong, and us ss folks have it all wrong. So laughable...