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Solid State Power Amps That Sound Most Like Tubes?

A close friend, and audio enthusiast who followed my path to tubed audio bliss has run into a situation (long story) due to which he needs to move to solid state. He has enlisted my help in putting together a list of the most likely candidates to consider.

I could use your help, expertise and experience in identifying which power amplifiers would best satisfy a former tube lover.

I've read many, many reviews, and it would seem that several of the First Watt amps (the J2) the Plinius SA 101, the Edge M8M, and certain others might work well, but honestly, I've never heard any of them, and know only what I've read. What do you recommend based on actual listening experience?

His budget is roughly $2750, give or take, and that would be considering a used purchase to maximize his purchasing power.

Part of his system mirrors mine. He is using Silverline 17.5 speakers. Which, based on personal experience can be well powered by my 18 wpc SET amp (granted my room is quite small), but tube watts are = to significantly more than solid state watts, and I'm concerned that the First Watts would be a bit light in the power category.

His musical listening tends toward rock, as well as a lot of female singers and jazz. His listening room is medium to medium large sized.

I would appreciate any help with this. I've searched a large number of threads here but most are somewhat out of date.
nightfall
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I pretty much agree with Rrog but you can get very close;my Roland 6 mono's are very close to my Audiovalve Challanger 180 mono's;having said that I would stick with the known winners;Pass,McCormack,Krell,Belles,Bat and the hybrid Moscode 401HR.
manoterror
216 posts
 
I use a tube buffer between my source and the preamp. This warms the sound, and gives it a more dynamic presentation. IMHO, tubes on the front end, with SS for the amplification give you a great balance of musicality and control.

:-)
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>11-06-10: Stringreen
The sound of tubes and the sound of solid state are converging so that the best designs are indistinguishable.<<

I suppose inexperienced listeners like you might believe that.

However, tubes have never, don't, and will never sound like solid state to an experienced pair of ears.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Truly spoken.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Audiofeil,
Do you disagree with the first part of Stingreen's sentence, "The sound of tubes and the sound of solid state are converging..." , the second part, "...so that the best designs are indistinguishable." or both parts?

As to the second part, I have not heard the best designs of each, so I can't be sure they are indistinguishable to my ears, though I do highly doubt they would be.

As to the first part, I have given it some thought. Though I don't have the experience of many people on Audiogon, I do think, and have read, that the best tube amps are sounding more and more like the real thing and also that the best SS amps are sounding more and more like the real thing. Does it not follow that they are therefore converging in sound, ie, more like the real thing? Assuming that they share the same aim.

I'm not saying they sound alike now or ever will sound alike. How could one possibly know? However, can a case not be made that as both tube and SS amps improve, and by this I mean sound more neutral and less colored and more like real music, that they do sound more alike than they did before? I don't think it is possible to categorically say something like "tubes will never sound like SS." How can one be so sure of the direction of future technology and its progress?

Fire away at my naivete.
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