Tube vs. Solid State-Basic Question


So here I am with my first all tube amp, the Manley Stingray II. While I wait for my Merlin TSM-XMr's to be delivered I've got the Stingray connected to a pair of Definitive Technology BP7004 towers in my theater room. I also ran them with a few other amps....testing them with a Cambridge 550A amp with 60 watts. I was able to play the speakers with the Cambridge well enough, but on tough passages at higher than medium volume the sound got congested and even distorted above that level.

So now I connect the new Stingray, switch to Triode-Mode (just 18 watts) and I get equal volume (or more) with beautiful sound, dynamics and imaging....and that's 18 watts in triode mode! The extra watts of the Cambridge did not appear to be of any use. What's up with that?

So....can some folks more educated on tubes explain to me....like I'm a two year old how the low powered Stingray plays so well with so little power?

Next up was to switch out of the triode mode and get the full 35-40 watts from the Manley which could drive the speakers very loud in my fairly large theater room. While I'm VERY happy with the Manley Stingray, I'm also a bit confused at the power the thing seems to have in spite of it's lower power. In fact my fat Denon receiver (110 watts) cannot keep up with the Stingray.

All comments welcome!

Bob
robbob
there was a very long thread on this phenomenon here:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1267984978&&&/Power-output-of-tube-amps-compared-to-so

Watts is watts, but amplifier and power supply design can allow a certain amount of headroom beyond the stated power specification.
I had the same experience with a 30 watt ARS Sonum Filarmonia (great match for your Merlins btw). It completely out muscled an expensive and modded 200 watt AV receiver.
What you have with Manley is simply an good match with your speakers, cos this is the key. The rest is just the rest, so, enjoy!
Tube amps offer an wonderful option and that's the tube tonality, which you can change with tube rolling, while SS amps are pretty much done, unless your pre-amp or other pre-equipment also a tube based one that can have some influence on SS power or integrated amps.
For example my CD player output have 2x ECC82 valves and if I roll them it creates some tonality change at the end, such as better clarity, extension or bass. Each tube brand have their own sound sig, where Mullards are more warm with great mids, but can loose some detail. But TUNG SOLS are very rich, but not warm, having great extension and tighter bass. All these small things make the final picture bit differently and that's why tubes are very fun, however in your situation can be quite expensive as well, cos there are so many of them in Manley:)
There are some technical things involved to, but hoping that other members can tell you more about that part.
Other than that, congrats and enjoy!