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Is there a SS amp that can offer tube bliss?

I currently own a tube system and love the sound. But honestly I'm not sure if I have the proper disposition for this tube thing. I cannot stand the constant worry over tube wear, looking around for NOS tubes, and wondering if maybe...just maybe my system will sound better if I spend still more money on different tubes. I would love to find a SS amp that will give me what my tube gear does and rid me of the worry about maintenance and the discontent inherent in tube upgrading. I've heard the Clayton M100s are wonderful and offer a "tube" sound. Any other SS amps to replace tubes? Any advice is most welcome.
Thank you.
samwise
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I would seriously consider one of Conrad Johnson's SS amps very musical and very tube like in their delivery.

Chuck
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Just a word on the Claytons - I have no personal experience w/ them but I have *read* that these amps favour a low impedance speaker over a high(er) impedance speaker. In particular, the M100s seemed to perform stellar with a 4 Ohms speaker. From the pro review (if you are willing to give it any credit!) it seemed that even 8 Ohms would not bring out the very best from them. Search the archives of http://www.soundstage.com
The reason I know this 'cuz they were #1 on my short-list but I ended up buying the German Symphonic Line amps as I could not find Claytons in my price range. IMHO, the Symphonic Line amps also offer tube-like performance. All the Symphonic Line owners I have communicated with mutually agree that these amps have "soul". These amps are available from Klaus of Odyssey Audio. Of course, this could be viewed as a biased opinion as I am an owner.
FWIW.
jont
54 posts
 
NO, but I'll through out the BAT VK200....
jm88439
40 posts
 
Aria WT-100 Hybrid does a great job of reproducing tube tonality. In terms of full bodied, 3D midrange, I still feel a all tube design is best. Either way you go you must accept compromise however.
cenline
238 posts
 
The Sim audio w-5 is a amp that I think is just as smooth as tubes with resolution that is the best I've heard in my room.The soundtaging is soooo massive and the midrange is palapable and real, the highs are extremely clean and extendedwithout sounding splashy.The low end on this amp is very accurate and fast with good punch.My speakers are a cruel load at 87db, and when I drive this amp loud and hard there is no heat on the heat sinks.Well I also own a MFA D75 and have had 4000hours on the oem tubes kt90 and with no trouble at all.Maybe a different tube amp may be in order,I think a used w-5 is a very good bargain with no headaches (advil is helpful in this area also).If you can get both since there is no absolute sound -Dennis
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