more reliable amp: tube or solid state class A

"i'm thinking the tube amp, solely b/c the tube is the hottest part, and its failure is accomodated for in the design (you simply plug in another tube). a hot running SS amp will eventually burn out resistors / transistors, and joe audiophile will be forced to send that to the factory for replacement."

You are correct. In addition, some solid-state amps use output transistors that go out of production, so if you lose a transistor, you're in trouble. Caps are no big deal for either SS or tube designs, as they are relatively cheap and easy to replace (you can easily get 20 to 30 years out of them on a very high quality tube amp, even designs biased in Class A). If reliability is your concern and you are looking down the road, buy a tube amp that uses the same output tubes used in guitar amps (KT-66's, EL-34's, 6550's), as the Marshalls and Fenders of the world sell half a million tube guitar amps every year and you'll always be able to find replacement tubes.

In any event, as you noted, a broken transistor amp has to be opened up. A tube amp just requires re-tubing and re-biasing, and once that is done, you've basically got a new amp.

regardless of class or bias, buy what works best with your speakers.

We've been making class A amps for nearly thirty years. In fact, other than a few prototypes, that's been the only class that we have indulged in.

So I can tell you this, and it is not a matter of opinion but is simple fact. It does not matter whether it is tube or solid state, what *does* matter is how conservatively the amplifier is designed to survive operating class A day in and day out.

Tubes of course have a service life that is different from transistors and if set up properly, will be just as reliable in class A as any other class of operation. The same can be said of transistors as well. Its all in the design- nothing with the device.

I've owned two amps in the last 7 years. A Krell 200FPB and VTL 300 Deluxe Mono Blocks. Both were returned for repairs.

Over the long haul? Do you really expect to be using which ever you decide on for more than a few years? If you are seriously considering replacing your McIntosh amps already, it seems unlikely. It always amazes me when someone using this site says they've been using the same equipment for more than two years or so. I wonder what the turnover rate really is.
Anyhoo, solid state gets my vote. Less hassle in the short run and probably in the long run also.