TRL Dude Dilemna

"That "purity" and "thereness" you mention is very hard for most other types(non SET) of amplifiers to achieve, at lease when compared to the better built SETs."

Charles, you make a statement like that and provide directional counsel to Tellefsen, and then revert to sonic relativism. What SS amps have you heard in your own system in recent history? Audio shows are relatively worthless in educating our sensibilities.

I have spent the last three months doing extensive A+B testing of three different amps, including a SET, and have come to my own conclusions which I will share at a later date in a more appropriate setting.

Tellefsen (Norwegian I presume), you obviously have an itch. Let us know where is takes you.

Hi,
Agear now it seem as though you`re missing the 'point', In my quote above I was quite clear to say 'most' and not 'all'. You have spent 3 months evaluating amps in your system and have drawn certain conclusions. I`ve spent many years listening to various types of amps and have also formed conclusions based on observations, just like you or anyone else.
There`s no resorting to "sonic relativism" as you put it, in terms of 'coping out', but merely to state the obvious,there is no absolute when it comes to audio.
Your observations and subsequent decisions they lead to are no better or worse than mine, they`re simply yours.

There`s no need(or point) is debating SET vs SS atributes as it will depend on who`s doing the listening-judging(how else can it be?).
I understand that show conditions are`nt ideal, yet somehow many rooms/components manage to sound good and sometimes even great! They are setup by those who know their components best. Of course I have`nt heard many of these amps in my system and never will(just impractical).

Tellefsen I`m sure took what I wrote as one person`s opinion, the same as all the other contributors to this fun thread he started.
The best SS amp i`ve had in my system was Symphonic Line(German) it was very very good. My Frankenstein MKII 300b SET is a superior amplifier for ny needs and desires. You and others could/would feel differently, what is the big deal.

Agear if you find SS amps ideal for your needs then that`s the direction to go.You can do all the extensive A/B testing you want but at the end of the day they`re just 'your' results. I really don`t understand the need to prove one amp catagory is equal to or better than another. Come on man , it is and will always be subjective thus relative when all is said and done.
Regards,

Jwm,
Thanks.

Agear...yes I am Norwegian...I find myself not consistent in what amplifier I prefer with my current setup (viva and mc402). I find that sometimes the type of music and more so my mood has an impact on what I prefer. If I am in a rock-out kind of mood I may prefer the power of the big mc402). I also have a pair of passive 15 inch Green Mountain subs that I drive with a Crown XTI-2000 amp that has a build in DSP. This lets me run the main speakers full range and bring in the pair of subs at 45-50Hz with whatever crossover slope I want....So I have many system permutations available to me to find that sound that satisfies me at the moment.

Yes Agear, some current SS and hybrid amps sound as you describe in your post. I like Electrocompaniet and my current Aesethix Atlas hybrid amp.

However, remember that these high achieving SS amps will not always sound this way on ALL speakers and in ALL set-ups. On certain speakers they will and on others perhaps not. More to the point is this, what I consider beautiful sounding another will deem boring or dull. The "blows another amp away" feeling is based soley on what we like/prefer as individuals.

I do not think any SS amp sounds like a SET amp however. Some will prefer the sound of well done SS amps with certain speakers, but SS amps don't sound like SET tube amps.

I like the original poster's idea of changing amps to fit his mood. Pull out the Mac 402 when he wants a big, bold, dynamic, loud and warmish sound. Fire up those lovely Viva amps for an intimate musical experience. I can sooooo relate!