If I could have only one amplifer, SS or TUBE?

geowak · « **on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:03 pm »

If you could have only one amp for the rest of your life, which design would you decide upon? A tube amp or a solid state amp. Also give a reason why. But let's not light the thread on fire please.

Upon reasonable request added not sure as a choice.

WC · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:07 pm »

Maybe you should add a not sure selection. I only have had SS amps and have not really listened to Tubes, so I am unwilling to make either selection without having listened to tube amps.

TRADERXFAN · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:41 pm »

ok guys, this one has the earmarks of a tinderbox...

So upfront I ask to please be extra polite and do not let it devolve to arguments, or it will be closed.

Thanks.
Tony

roscoeiii · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:49 pm »

Always a tricky sort of question when the speaker is taken out of the equation. Assuming I could change tube amps to best suit any new speaker, I would go tube. But if was committing to buy one amp that would need to drive any potential speaker that came through the door, I think I'd have to go solid-state. Probably an Ncore.

But I am convinced that you are unlikely to make a great amp choice without keeping the speaker in mind. And without auditioning the amp-speaker combo, for that matter. Specs and reviews will only get you so far.

underdawg · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:51 pm »

both as having both, both have their plus and minus. I use bothe via biamp.tubes on mids and highs, solid state for the lows. hybrids can work for the lows also , I have tried few of the with tubes on the input section, and mosfets for the ouitputs.just my two cents.

toocool4 · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:52 pm »

Solid State for me, i already have a Spectral Audio amp love the sound.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 04:58 pm »

My only problem with a tube amp is cost of tubes.
I would want a couple of hundred watts. And that is really expensive in tubes..
I like a tube preamp. And have gone between both types.
I now own one SS, one tube, and one hybred preamp.
I would never own a tube amplifier primarily due to tubes..
I like the fact i can leave my amp on 24/7...
So I am a confirmed solid state gal. At least for amps.
If I suddenly won a hundred million in some lottery.. Hey i would buy some tube amps..
(ARC REF 610s... drooling...)

roscoeiii · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:01 pm »

A good point Elizabeth. Am I remembering correctly that you run Maggies? Not a great match for tubes until you get into some big, high power space heater amps for sure.

medium jim · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:06 pm »

It all depends on what you want. Tubes as a general rule are sweeter in the mids and highs, allow for more harmonics to come through, tend to sound the best right before they start to compress. Tubes have a deeper and more evolving soundstage, but are usually more expensive watt per watt than their counterpart SS amp and need to be adjusted and fiddled with now and then to keep them in the sweet spot. And there is the cost of replacing or rolling of tubes and that they're less environmentally friendly with respect to consumption of electricity.

But I'm biased as I will choose a great tube amp over a great SS amp. That said, the difference between SS and Tubes is diminishing to the point there are only subtle, yet obvious differences between the two these days and it becomes a true personal choice with no right or wrong answer. Much is also incumbent on the rest of the system as I really believe in system synergy which can be elusive at times.

Jim

Eric · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:08 pm »

How about a hybrid amp that gives you the best of both worlds?

medium jim · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:15 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 29 Jan 2013, 05:01 pm

A good point Elizabeth. Am I remembering correctly that you run Maggies? Not a great match for tubes until you get into some big, high power space heater amps for sure.

I have a different opinion as to what is necessary to drive Magnepan's to tonal bliss, but this is not the thread for that.

Jim

roscoeiii · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:19 pm »

Quote from: Eric on 29 Jan 2013, 05:08 pm

How about a hybrid amp that gives you the best of both worlds?

In theory a hybrid can give you the best of both worlds, though I find that to not always be the case in practice. A good reason to appreciate that the devil is in the details, and that overly broad questions can be problematic.

In my case, I loved the hybrid Butler 2250 with my SP Tech Minis. Those speakers like a lot of power and a sufficiently high power tube amp was well out of my price range (yeah, $/watt cost is usually much greater for tube amps, especially high power ones). The SP Minis sang like angels with the Butler hybrid. Superb combo.

But when I got a pair to Von Schweikert VR-4 Gen IIs, the Butler was no longer the best match with them. A Rogue Stereo 90 (100 watt all tube amp), gave me everything that the Butler did (including rock-solid bass!) and added even more of the tube goodness. But on the SP Techs, the match wasn't nearly as good. On those SP Techs, I continued to prefer the Butler.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:20 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 29 Jan 2013, 05:15 pm

I have a different opinion as to what is necessary to drive Magnepan's to tonal bliss, but this is not the thread for that.

Jim

Yes, I have no direct experience driving Maggies, only having heard them at shows, but I got that impression from a number of postings I have read about them over the yrs.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:20 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 29 Jan 2013, 05:15 pm

I have a different opinion as to what is necessary to drive Magnepan's to tonal bliss, but this is not the thread for that.

Jim

Go ahead, med jim. This thread is cool. I don't think anyone would disagree.

geowak · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:24 pm »

All intelligent comments without the fire, thanks for keeping it all civil, I guess it can be done. System synergy, keeping the right speaker match, the cost of it all too. I have just ventured into the tube world and like the sound but it can be fussy. Tweaking NOS tubes can go on and on... But hey we must all luv the hobby. BTW I luv the ARC ref but I also am tempted by the Shindo stuff if I were a rich man...

roscoeiii · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:29 pm »

Quote from: geowak on 29 Jan 2013, 05:24 pm

All intelligent comments without the fire, thanks for keeping it all civil, I guess it can be done. System synergy, keeping the right speaker match, the cost of it all too. I have just ventured into the tube world and like the sound but it can be fussy. Tweaking NOS tubes can go on and on... But hey we must all luv the hobby. BTW I luv the ARC ref but I also am tempted by the Shindo stuff if I were a rich man...

And the examples of ARC and Shindo are alos interesting, as they seem to be on opposite ends of the tube spectrum. Shindo is often considered a quintessential "tube magic" line. While ARC gets praise and criticism for sounding closer to solid-state. Same sorts of comments are made about different SS designs.

medium jim · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:44 pm »

Quote from: jimdgoulding on 29 Jan 2013, 05:20 pm

Go ahead, med jim. This thread is cool. I don't think anyone would disagree.

Jim:

Thanks, but no....my best intentions would be to keep in civil, but my experiences tell a different story and it would become a thread hijack.

Jim

shortcuttomoncton · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:49 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 29 Jan 2013, 05:19 pm

In theory a hybrid can give you the best of both worlds, though I find that to not always be the case in practice. A good reason to appreciate that the devil is in the details, and that overly broad questions can be problematic.

In my case, I loved the hybrid Butler 2250 with my SP Tech Minis. Those speakers like a lot of power and a sufficiently high power tube amp was well out of my price range (yeah, $/watt cost is usually much greater for tube amps, especially high power ones). The SP Minis sang like angels with the Butler hybrid. Superb combo.

But when I got a pair to Von Schweikert VR-4 Gen IIs, the Butler was no longer the best match with them. A Rogue Stereo 90 (100 watt all tube amp), gave me everything that the Butler did (including rock-solid bass!) and added even more of the tube goodness. But on the SP Techs, the match wasn't nearly as good. On those SP Techs, I continued to prefer the Butler.

I've really been enjoying your Butler on both my Gallo Reference 3.0s and Energy 22 Reference Connoisseurs. Haven't yet done an A/B but everyone's ears say it's a significant upgrade to my previous solid state amp - effortless, huge sound without any hint of harshness. Thanks.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 05:57 pm »

Quote from: shortcuttomoncton on 29 Jan 2013, 05:49 pm

I've really been enjoying your Butler on both my Gallo Reference 3.0s and Energy 22 Reference Connoisseurs. Haven't yet done an A/B but everyone's ears say it's a significant upgrade to my previous solid state amp - effortless, huge sound without any hint of harshness. Thanks.

Yeah, with the right speakers, the Butler is a killer amp.

If I could have afforded to keep both it and the Rogue, I would have (since I still have the SP Minis). And if I ever get into a space where I can have a H/T set-up, I will head straight to the 5-channel Butler 5150.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jan 2013, 06:01 pm »

I chose tube because I really like the single ended triode sound. I'm not sure if I could ever let it go, so I am happy to keep it forever.

Poll

Which type of amp design would you pick to live with, if you had to pick either solid state or tubes?

If I could have only one amplifer, SS or TUBE?