Why did you lean one way or the other

I’ve had tube and SS gear.   Synergy is everything.   Sometimes it’s tube and sometimes it’s SS.   I’ve kind of landed on my next system as tube pre and SS monoblocks,   Synergy!  YMMV.

I've gone back and forth with Tube and SS preamps, over 30 years, and will probably continue to do so...I enjoy the strengths of each...ARC, Jeff Rowland, Pass, BAT ...

Started out with SS, McIntosh for amps and pre. Then moved to Audio Research tubes in pre, amp, phono but the game changer was the Nagra Tube Dac with separate power supply and Grimm MU1 streamer.  Finally settled in with SS Burmester reference amp and pre-amp as well as phono stage. Still have the Nagra Tube Dac and Grimm. What I love about going back to SS is the speed of the bass and the overall soundstage. Primarily listen to Jazz and Rock. 

@mapman

Re: moving stuff!  The weight of big power transformers + OPTs can be insane at 81 years old.  But my SET TU-8900S is half the weight of the Pass Labs XA25.

I find it interesting that more hybrid leaning systems are tube pre + SS power, I do not have a "modern" tube pre to try this with - at least one that I can lift.  There is a CAT SL 1 Mk II sitting in a box, just needing a pair of 12AU7s, but my back could not allow me to try to lift it!

The "keep it pure" up front then roll tubes to color the sound in the power amp seems to work.

Why did you lean one way or the other?

l never have as never delved into anything else.

l asked a friend of mine, an old farmer why he always leaned to his right, was it an old farming injury, a hip or knee wearing out?

He replied, “No, l have one leg longer than the other”

A similar experience happened in the shop l managed when said farmer came in one day, noticed another guy leaning to the right beside him as he walked up to the check out. The farmer said, “Have you got the same problem l have?”  The other guy looking surprised said, “Oh!”…. “Have you got a wooden leg too?”