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Does SS cost more than HS for superior sound?


I sure hope I’m saying this right… I may be off the mark a bit….. Money talks… money matters as well, perhaps now more so than ever before.

For a while now I’ve been hearing or keep hearing, and in part am finding out for myself by acquiring this amp and that here and there, in order to obtain an equivalancy in audio refinement a SS amp will cost far more than will a tube amp when seeking out a natural, organic, or more dense and lifelike sounding presentation.

To me it seems less expensive a task to acquire these elements with tube amps and preamps, than with the likewise solid state products.

EX could be one will find far more bright sounding SS amps than one will find bright sounding tube amps, indicating extension isn’t all it could be in the world of sand only products.

I have heard repeatedly solid state appliances that are cool, dry, and uninvolving yet quite expensive.

I’ve not heard all of those characteristics in tube powered devices, although I have heard not long ago very pricey tube amps I simply wouldn’t buy with someone else’ money…. Yet they weren’t dry or lifeless, but they didn’t captivate.

Also I’ve never heard a tube preamp or amp that was prone to listener fatigue.

OR… could this possibly be more a matter of preferential requirements, and merely the age old subject of taste?
blindjim
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mapman's avatar
mapman
22,189 posts
 

I think personal taste is the main factor that will determine which way to go.

If you like a tube sound, then the tube route is clearly more practical.

I've found I have limited appetite for hearing my electronics, be they hollow or solid states. I like to believe that I cannot tell the technology of my system by listening, only whether it sounds natural or not to me. I think accomplishing this with all tubes would prove to be not an inexpensive proposition.

I'm finding I like a good SS system with just a dash of tubes. I know there are other ways to achieve similar results applying pure tube amplification, but I have not stumbled upon one yet that would save me any money. Plus, I still like the low maintenance appeal of SS over tubes as well.

If the case were that I could only achieve my goals with a pair of speakers that require tubes to perform well, I would feel differently I think. But for me, the most irreplaceable ingredient in my system are the OHM omnis and these are not inherently tube friendly speakers.

The other technology that I am finding can really make the SS equation work very well and cost effectively are Class D amps.
jallen
502 posts
 
Buying either SS or tubes in and of themselves will have no guarantees. Not all tube designs are good as not all SS designs are good. They have to match with the speaker. Generally tubes are more musical IMHO, but not always. Try first and be open minded. With low efficency speakers, good SS is a great option. With high efficency speakers, low power tube amps are glorious in well matched systems.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,189 posts
 
One other thing that matters I think is kind of music listened to.

In general, I think electronic or pop music involving clean tight bass that you can feel as well as hear is easier tackled with SS amplification and matching speakers. For those interested in jazz classical and acoustic music mainly, tubes may be the ticket. But reproducing a symphony orchestra to scale on a tube system will not come cheaply. Neither will SS for that matter.
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