Solid state amp that tube fan can be happy with?


For a few reasons I'd like to replace my EL34 mono blocks with a stereo SS amp producing 100-250 watts at 8 ohms.  Also with at least 40K input impedance since I'll keep my tube line stage.

No local dealers to audition candidates.

Thanks

pryso

Enjoyed listening to a Bedini 25/25  Also a BEL 1001 going through a Melos 

SHA 1. Older like me thanks

Coda, without hesitation, should be at the top of your list of considerations.

And my line stage has RCA outputs so prefer not to need adaptors for balanced amp inputs.

I'll repeat, I have reasons for a stereo amp so no mono blocs considered.  Also I don't expect SS to sound just like tubes, but I'd like a bit of sonic warmth and fullness.

I expected some suggestions for Class D but I've never heard one and no local auditions available.  So that would definitely need to be new with return option.

@pryso FWIW Dept: Class D amps don't run warm so you can stack them if you like so the mono or stereo thing isn't so important. Also FWIW our class D has both balanced and single-ended inputs and we allow for a return. The amps seem to take a while to break in; about 450 hours so we allow for a long audition time with them than we do with our tube stuff.

You have gotten some great suggestions if you are really looking to make the switch to solid state.   I was in the same situation a few years ago and tried Boulder and Pass Labs.  Being a tube lover for over 40+ years I went back to a all tube system and I am enjoying the music more than ever.

As mentioned somewhere above if you love tube sound only tubes will satisfy. 

I was also gonna recommend the Atmasphere GaN amp but didn’t as they are monoblocks, but they don’t take up more space than your average stereo amp, and as Ralph mentioned above they can even be stacked.  They offer a generous trial period, and you have to think there’s something to a distinguished tube amp designer being very happy with his GaN amp.  I’d be strongly inclined to at least try them if I was you.