tube amps sounding like solid state and vv

They don't. The problem is that a lot of folks who think tube units sound like solid state and v/v are only hearing tonal response. There certainly are warm SS units and cold tube units, but that has nothing to do with the qualities that most tubeophiles recognize as the valued difference, such as lack of grain, liquidity, and airness of the high(er) frequencies.

They are intended for people who have good speaker systems. The intent of the lessor designs, is to take you mind off of what you don't have, by applying what is know as the "masking effect" (-:

Dave

Solid state and tubes are like sailboats(tubes)and power boats(ss)they both enjoy a common medium but ner the two shall meet.Or the classic phrase may apply "you can't compare apples with oranges"

Some solid state Carver pre-amps, like the c-6 provide dual preamp outputs: one SS and one that emulates a smoother, tube-like sound. I have used both to best effect over the years depending on the associated gear.

The vintage Carver stuff provides some nice flexibility towards a more tube like sound anchored in SS but is not a substitute for real tubes.

Some Carver SS power amps like the m4.0t and the m1.0t are designed to produce a warmer, smoother more tube like sound as well.

I have found the Carver pre-amps (c-6 in particular) provides these and other very distinct and useful features that I have found most useful for tweaking the best sound out of various gear over the years.