Is there solid state gear that gives the depth and 3D of tubes?

joeinid

joeinid

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I've been through a lot of gear. No matter how good the solid state gear that I had sounds, I still never got the depth and 3D that even lesser expensive tube gear gives me.

What's been your experience and can you tell me your favorite SS gear?
 
joeinid said:
I've been through a lot of gear. No matter how good the solid state gear that I had sounds, I still never got the depth and 3D that even lesser expensive tube gear gives me.

What's been your experience and can you tell me your favorite SS gear?
Click to expand...

I had tubes CJ P1 and felt the Ayre KXR AND MXR 20s is better and a lot less trouble.

I have a 18 watt KR that sounds great thru a pair of Loth X speakers but no match for the Ayre gear with the CLXs

As always the tube verses doing it right debate never ends if I won a Lotto I would check out soultion MBL a few others Burmester but tubes not so much.
 
Thank you.

After I posted this question, I sort of knew where it would be going. I guess SS that sounds like the best tubes is the holy grail and non-existent. I remain forever hopeful.
 
So far, my favorite SS gear is from a Serbian company called Karan Acoustic. Can't say it sounds very much like tube gear though.

If you want tube-like character from a transistor design, I'd recommend checking out the Dayens Ampino integrated amplifier. It's less than $600 USD and boasts of a presentation that, in many ways, is similar to what you hear from equipment that boast of nice glowing-glass. I'm also in the process of evaluating the Blue Circle Audio BC1022, which too has something of a 'lit from within' character that you'd normally associate with a good tube amp.
 
Dartzeel is the only one I've heard that does it. but then again, you've owned it before so maybe not in your setup?

I would like to hear the 25 watt Vitus integrated, but its not a very easy brand in the US to hear.
 
Joe

Take a look at the Vinnie Rossi LIO. It is modular and you can configure it the way you want. Rave reviews in the rooms with Harbeth and then when tried after hours at Axpona with Spatial.
 
I am a die hard tube guy. I had the LIO in my system for an audition. It is very clean and clear but in my system it did not demonstrate the 3D layering nor did it have the warmth of tubes.
Hearing the same unit in the owners home with Harbeth HL5+ was VERY good but it still did not have any of the "tube" flavor.
 
I think your best bet would be on hybrids, tube input stage (maybe even the voltage amplification stage within the amp which tubes are good for) + SS output stage (to provide the current).
 
we can stay up all night talking about SS gear that have the je ne sais quoi of tubes but its never exactly the same. IMO the only substitute for tube gear is other tube gear:snicker:[h=1][/h]
 
Nagra Classic (listened with Verity Audio Parsifal Anniversary & Nagra Jazz).

Gryphon Mephisto (listened with Wilson Benesch Endeavour & Gryphon Pandora).

Both had amazing depth. Back wall disappeared and sound stage depth appeared limitless. Striking, as I never notice or am disappointed with the lack of stage depth generally. The LM219IA was nowhere as good.
 
jadedavid

Did the LIO you heard have the tube preamp stage? There are now options available for tube preamp stages with either the 6DJ8 family or a new DHT stage.
 
puroagave said:
we can stay up all night talking about SS gear that have the je ne sais quoi of tubes but its never exactly the same. IMO the only substitute for tube gear is other tube gear:snicker:[h=1][/h]
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Like purple squirrels and unicorns!

I have to say, I do think the old Pass XA.5 series came damn close.
 
Jack,

Vinnie Rossi's new gear looks pretty cool. I hope to hear it again this weekend.


Jack said:
jadedavid

Did the LIO you heard have the tube preamp stage? There are now options available for tube preamp stages with either the 6DJ8 family or a new DHT stage.
Click to expand...
 
many people can not even hear a 3d soundstage. consider yourself lucky.

to my ears ONLY tubes and vinyl can make music come to live on a good analog hifi system.

many ss systems with huge speakers with many hundreds of watts are impressive, but the music sounds "dead" to me.

don't aks me what's the secret of "real live sound" (and yes i've heard it with hifi and it WAS a tube amp with a turntable) - but you definitely can not measure it with the usual electronic devices.

:hmmm:
 
Thank you guys so far.

I had a big long post talking about some previous amps but it started getting a little rambling, so I deleted it.

I am fortunate to have the amps that I have now and love the variety. I guess nothing good comes easy and the type of sound we crave takes work.
 
Never heard them but Wells Audio Innamorata amps have gotten some high praise for sounding tube like.
 
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