One of the reasons I became sold on the tube/SS combo is an audition I had some years ago at a store in Nashville (2008–2009 or thereabouts), where I spent part of a vacation.
I heard an all-tube combo, an all transistor combo, and a tube/SS combo. The best sound? The combo. The all-tube (MC275 amp and I forget the preamp) sounded too warm; the all-SS system was crisper, cleaner, more detail, but didn't do much for me. The 275 amp with a transistor preamp (C52, if memory serves) sounded just right. It sounded like music! All systems went through the same speakers, a set of B&Ws. That's when I begin to think the combo setup might be the best option. And here I am today.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks
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