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solid state vs tubes

has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?

the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.

this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.

if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.

why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
mrtennis
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pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Tvad, I had the Aleph 2,3,J and XA30.5 - I no longer have any of them, but three tube amps; I really did want to have an SS amp, so I tried some of the "best" - but with my speakers.....
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,483 posts
 
Can anybody tell me a pair of speakers that sounds the same well with either tube or SS amplification?

I can think of different speaker/amp combos, some SS and some tube amps, that sound very similar, but I cannot cite a case where a tube and SS amp sounded the same with the same speakers. They will almost always sound different with different resulting sonic strengths and weaknesses, the the listener must decide which is better.

Unless you are Bob Carver and your goal is to emulate one amp with another. I do not know any vendor whose busines is based on that these days. Each quality vendor typically does their thing well, be it SS or tube amps or both. Choice of amp will determine choice of speakers or vice versa.

I think this is the bottom line. Build your system to meet your needs. Use tubes or SS as desired, but do not expect touse either to the same effect with the same speakers.
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pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Harbeth seems to be as fasinable with SS as tubes, whereas my speakers are proabably 98% tube users.
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