Tubes vs Solid State - Imaging, Soundstaging, 3D

Al,
True and this is why Ralph's explanation struck a chord with me. The irony is that although tube amplifiers in some cases have more "audible" noise, once the music plays you hear 'more' musical nuance and low level information than with the 'quieter' amplifier. On the surface this seems counterintuitive yet it's the reality I've heard.
Charles,

Hi Mapman - if I may, Frogman's post of 10-22 explains quite well what professional musicians are missing when they listen to systems that do not have low level detail. It may be a very quiet system, but there is still information missing - some of the baby is being thrown out with the bath water. Most musicians would rather put up with some surface noise such as hiss but also be able to hear this low level detail - we work very hard at such things as Frogman is describing, and it is disappointing not to hear them reproduced. If you would like more explanation after re-reading, I'm sure he or I would be happy to try to elaborate some more.

Atmasphere, thanks very much indeed for your usual clarity of explanation. You have a gift for it; I have learned a great deal from you on this board - Al as well.

"In my experience, SS always seems to image more sharply and offer the deepest, clearest field. "

Apparently, not the case. Unless no negative feedback is used. At least not in some ways.

All we've heard so far is a generalization of 'large' amounts of NF. Nothing specific or specific for specific amps has been stated. There clearly remains a beneficial amount at which comparisons of tube and ss amps' performance level may converge. Hence the ongoing debate and differing preferences. There seems to be an awful lot of objective statements being made under the guise of subjective view points though.