I picked up an Onkyo TX-2500 MKII that sounded like my tube amp. I was actually stunned. Any other and hopefully newer SS gear sounds like a quality tube amp? Tube amps usually have a natural sound and lots of detail with high clarity.
I've compared my Hegel H30 to three different tube amps (I've owned) from PL Evo 400 to BAT Rex 3 mono blocks. Still listening to the H30. For me, that says it all. Cheers.
When a SS amp tries to emulate a tube amp, you usually get the worst of both worlds. The transients are muted and the bass is not as defined. What you want is a really good sounding SS amp that is mostly neutral with no added warmth or brightness. It just goes about it's business and gets out of the way. But you'd not mistake it for a tube amp. Both topologies can be very good in their lanes.
I just bought my son in law a guitar amp. I bought him a sweet Mesa Boogie 4-40 California Tweed. There is no way a Solid State amp can emulate the sound of four 6v6 and four 12ax7 . Those dsp modeling amps try but they can not deliver the same tone.
I’d look at a hybrid integrated with a tube input stage and SS output from the likes of Unison Unity or Pathos, or if you’re open to separates a tube pre and SS amp would be another option to get some of that tube magic. Past that an amp that operates all or largely in Class A like Pass or Coda or a SS amp from a tube amp manufacturer like Audio Research or Atmasphere would be where I’d look next. Best of luck.
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