Anyone has a reference system where amplification is SS ?

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...

Mike, unless I missed it, you need a custom tube playback head outboard preamp for your Ampexes.

“transparent is not enough for a solid state amplifier, musically complete, grain less and flowing are the challenges. these are relative things. not absolutes.”

transparent is all of those things if those things are in the recording. Transparent means the output is audibly indistinguishable from the input other than the gain. If one wants some additional seasoning then euphonically colored amps are an option. But so are DSP simulators that do it better at a fraction of the cost with greater flexibility and the option to turn them off. 

Yes. With Jeff Rowland Model 12 Monoblocks.