solid state vs tubes

hi mapman:

the issue of discerning the difference between a tube amp and a ss amp, ceteris paribus, is of great interest to me.

if i can be foooled or cannot tell the difference between a ss or tube amp as party of a stereo system, why have the tube amp.

ralph: i thinki the issue is planar vs cones , not impedance.

it may be harder to tell the difference between amps using cones, than panels, regardless of a con designs impedance curve.

in my case , a planar owner, i think it is easy to tell the difference between ss and tube amp. electrostats and ribbons do not have the same impedance curve, yet they are -panels.

i have heard rowland and avalon sound very pleasant , when combined, but i have yet to hear a panel speaker with a class d or ss amp drive an electrostat or ribbon, or planar magnetic exhibit a well beheaved upper midrange, treble response.

i realize it is preference and i expect that finding a ss amp that will be livable is almost impossible. i have no illusions, but will not give up the quest, as yet.

Mr T.

That's fine I think you need to state the question as might your speakers sound tube like with a ss amp. Nothing else really matters if that is what you seek.

I personally think it is possible with some SS amps, maybe even the better Class Ds. You might want to through some tube gear up front in the pre-amp or source in order to keep things leaning more towards the pure tube sound, but I'd be willing to bet you can do it with a SS pre-amp and maybe no tubes at all.

I would not hesitate to suggest trying the Carver m4.0t that I used with mg1cs for years with no real tubes. A used one would only cost a few hundred. Or maybe even a m1.0T which is the amp that was voiced to sound like the CJ reference amp. My only reservation with this combo was that a sub was needed for the low end to be competitive with truly top notch systems in that regard.

Atmasphere, silly me, I forgot about the Macs. I was referring to the Pass M2.

Interesting read with lots of opinions but there is more to it than just the amp and in the end just that opinions and really no right or wrong.

That being said I replaced my CAT JL3 Sig. MKII mono blocks $40K with the new Bryston Squared 28's less than half the list price and I'm very pleased, I have not found any other amps no matter what price and/or design and I have had allot of world class pces making me want to change, my speakers are MBL 101E's. I'm after getting the most out of my speakers.

I know of others whom have been trying these amps and have been pleasently surprised also so you might want to try. My preference is haveing solid state paired up with a tube pre, I'm currently using a VAC Sig. MK2a and truely enjoying.

Another member said this;

09-26-10: Bryceeboy

The first time I ever got what the SET group was raving about was when I inserted the 28B Squared into my system. I am a tube guy through and through but when I placed these in my system nothing had come close in the past. I own Soundlab A-1's which are a bear to drive but these things can make them growl or purr like a kitty. Great amps IMHO! Good luck.

Dev,

In your case those mbls would pretty much dictate SS amplification.

BTW you are a lucky guy. Nothing does 3-d imaging of large scale classical recordings as holographically as the larger mbls I have heard.