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Which is the most tubelike solid state amp around

Being a tube person who is trying to put together an active loudspeaker setup , I have come across the problem of choosing the best driver for the midrange and upper bass i.e.80Hz to 2.5 KHz. I would like to try a panel such as a Magnapan but am told that they are rather power hungry. Therefore, I would be grateful if fellow Audiogoners could share your experience in relation to the best powerful SS amps that would not be out of place in a "tube-ophile's" system.
Thanks
ecka
pdspecl
254 posts
 
What bout the TAD Hibachi mono block amps? I have a TAD 150 Signature tube preamp and think it's a great product for the money. Paul G's tube amps are also nice. Not sure about his Hibachi amps but he claims TUBE LIKE sound.
spelly
63 posts
 
I second the Redgum rec made earlier. I'm a confirmed tube-o-holic, and very few SS amps can hold my attention. I have owned the 35wpc and 120wpc integrateds and they are excellent. Their sound is smooth, refined, palpable, detailed, and most importantly, engaging!

I sold the 120 watter to a buddy, and he loves it on his Soliloquy 6.2 spkrs. I use the 35 watter in my BR system. Strapped to my DeVore Gibbons monitors, a rich, fluid and relaxed sound results that is just beguiling.

Redgum is in Australia and I believe they've lost their lease and are offering some bargains. Check their website.
breuninger
101 posts
 
I think the Threshold SA-1 monos may qualify. Some guy posted a pair for 15K saying that's how good they sound. I bought a pair two years ago and though I need the storage space, I just can't get myself to list them. They sound so good and 3D like tubes, without any solid state grain.

Peter
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Nelson Pass' First Watt series, particularly the F3.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,957 posts
 
Mrtennis, your timing of when you heard the BAT amps is off. Before BAT went into business, one of the founders was a customer of ours. They were seen for the first time at CES in 1995. Their SS amp followed some years later; its likely you heard that comparison in '98 or '99.

more on the topic: The most 'tube like' (meaning to me: musical without artifact, detailed, I can listen to it all day and not think about the sound of the amp, just listening to the music) transistor amp is the Ridley Audio amplifier. No other transistor amp is even close; it is better than many tube amps I've heard. It also costs about $100K and employs a heater circuit to heat the output section- it runs as hot as any triode class A tube amp of the same power. IMO, for Maggies, you are better off with actual tubes. Fortunately, they are easy to drive.
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