Tube preamp topologies and music

All valid points above.Eventually it comes down to the characteristics you value and finding and matching equipment to get you there. Speakers and room size are key. Unfortunately or fortunately this requires research and trial with your ears. If you value slam and dynamics, single ended tube amps are at a detriment compared to solid state amps. If you want set and forget, go with solid state. If you like modifying, rolling tubes, then... If you value soundstage depth, solid state is at a disadvantage. It comes down to the end result you want to hear and how you want to get there.

@immatthewj 

I would have thought your comment on a SET amp being a poor choice for for a head banger about as safe and uncontroversial as possible… hmm, I guess everything can be challenged. 

In all fairness, I thought jasonbourne71's comments were pretty on point overall, and I should have made that clear in my own comment above.

@jasonbourne71, spot on. OP I would look at Quicksilver Audio see here.

Mike

Thanks all for tons of info! 
 

I’m trying to parse things as best I can so I wanted to use an example:

Air Tight ATM-2: KT88 push/pull

Air Tight ATM-1: EL34 also push/pull

driving 99db Klipsch heresy 4 nor make listening volume at 80db