Still looking for WMD's, eh?
I will concede that a very high quality SS amp can be wonderful when directly compared to some tube amps. However, if I go down in my basement and break out a vintage motorola console ss amp and a vintage motorola console tube amp, so that I am comparing equitable pieces of equipment in regards to pricepoint and technology, the difference will be staggering. Tubes have advantages over SS(sound, tuneability, secondary house hold heat source), as quality SS has advantages over tubes(maintenance free reliability, excellent ballast for tall racks.) Both can be very pleasing and sometimes both will not. For a realistic comparison, equitable pieces must be used with no other variables allowed. With this as your test bed, then you can get accurate results from which to form an opinion. For my taste and from my experience, I'll take the tubes on top. Even high end SS amps cannot do what a little el84 can for accuracy, speed, transparency and depth. I love all those esoteric terms we've come up with to create BS sales techniques. Bottom line, give me tubes or give me transistors, just don't give me bose!!!