solid state vs tubes

From an engineering standpoint it simply does not matter what the active component is as far as the output into a given load (or loads). Tube or solid state - design either for the same response and the sound is indistinguishable. Keep in mind that all of the qaulities of the signal across the load amount to information. Tube amps were designed to provide a specified level of accuracy of the input information before solid state devices hit the market. Of course the two designs would be topologically dissimilar. The two types of active components do differ in their characteristics and from a practical and marketing standpoint it would not make much sense to offer a tube amp that did not sound like a tube amp. Why would anyone pay a good deal more money for such an amp, and what would be the point other than demonstrating that it could be accomplished? That being said, try listening to both driving speakers with impedance that does not drop to very low levels relative to the average and at very low volume levels . My guess is that you would be able to find two amplifiers that are pretty much indistinguishable as far as the sound produced. From that point out, it is a matter of additional design efforts and cost to extend the range over which the amps produce the same signal across a load for the same input. As far as why to have a tube amp if the solid state amp sounds the same - there would be no practical reason. Of course, the whole point in choosing a tube amp would be for the different characteristics. My suggestion is if you want a tube amp pick one that is, for lack of a better description "tubey" - one that is not what would be considered by someone interested in accurate signal processing to be a good design (which does not mean that it would not be a good design for an audiophile) - one that is going to be driven into distortion relatively early and has poor drive capabilities. It is the difference in the distortion that really separates solid state from tube amps as far as listening preferences.

It has been said that Pass XA.5 has a tube-like sound. I no longer understand what that means. To my ears, the Pass has a midrange on par with BAT, CAT, and Berning. That is, it has midrange depth, fullness, and CLARITY. Many SS amps have a midrange HAZE that everyone thinks is tube-like. To me, the essence of tubes is not haze, although there are certainly tube amps and preamps that smear the presentation. Some tube amps can also limit treble extension, and make the music sound homogenous and dull. Good tubes create a 3D, textured, plump, and clear midrange that sounds natural. They can shape the attack and decay of the note to create an increased sense of space.

However, I think the Pass surpasses tube amps, particularly in terms of low noise, bass depth, an effortlessness/relaxed presentation, and control during crescedos. I have to give credit to the BAT tubed preamp for contributing to this sound, in addition to the Tripoint Troy and supporting cables. If my system was behind a screen, I don't think someone would be able to say whether the amps are SS or tube. They just sound natural, musical, and right.

Now that this issue has been settled, I would also suggest that CD has surpassed vinyl....

Well, in 1985 there was the Carver challenge, where Bob Carver was able to set up his solid state amp so that the top stereophile editors could not distinguish it from Conrad Johnson's top amp at the time.

He did this by tweaking his amp to duplicate the transfer function of the CJ (at least when a particular set of speakers was in the circuit).

For whatever reason, that seemed to be pretty much the end of it as far as tuning solid state to sound exactly like tubes.

I've never heard of anyone trying to make a tube amp sound more like a particular solid state amp, although there has been a perpetual effort to improve tube amps where solid state has had the edge (bass control, bass/treble extension).

My short answer is No. I’ve not heard a tube amp that sounds like an SS amp in particular, nor the other way ‘round. I’ve only heard some of each amps attributes correlate to either amp despite their obvious topologies being vastly different..

I see no reason at all to buy a tube amp which sounds like a SS amp. In fact I’ve not heard either one duplicate the other. I have heard tube amps which tend to sound more SS’y than they do tubey. Ie., CJ and Cary of recent vintages… >2005.

The closer one gets to SET topology, the greater the distance between tube and SS amps becomes.

My Ultralinear configured mono blocks can be made to have a good deal of SS attributes…. OR they can be made to sound quite tube-ish… via rolling tubes, & pcs.

I‘ve not been able to make the reverse applicable…. Altering SS to sound like a Tube amp… nor do I care to find out how or even if that is possible.

Each topology serves it’s own end.

Only when or if I were to incorporate tubes into say a HT arrangement, and to lessen the disparity between those two designs, would I tend to look for more SS like tube amps… and even then I might not be so inclined to pursue that theme in those confines.

No such thing...