Orpheus10, I admire your motivation. When I was a newbie, I was like a sponge seeking reliable information... heck, I still am. But I think that the range of opinions regarding tubes and solid state are so diverse that there is no substitution for listening. Sure, those of us who are experienced can talk about the sonic impact of alternative designs because we have reference points. But to a newbie, its like an interior decorator discussing fabric selection without the use of swatches. Even forgetting about system synergy [I have complete confidence (Im not going to prove this) that I could set up two well matched systems, where you would conclude that one sounded better with tubes and the other with solid state], we all have different values and a newbie hasnt acquired his yet. He might think he has, but he hasnt. Also, in my experience, tube amplifiers of comparable quality are less expensive than their solid state counterparts - thats not taking into consideration re-tubing. Im not disagreeing with you and your experiences, Im just adding mine - for the newbies.
