Hi John!
 Yes, there is a "tube sound". Is it better than a well designed solid
state amp? I don't necessarily buy into it. Between a properly designed
solid syate amp and a tube amp run within it's normal parameters, there
should be little if any difference. It is only when you are stressing
the amplifiers where you can detect major differences betwenn the two
amp types.
 Tube amps when pushed hard produce even harmonics, solid state amps
produce odd harmonics. Tube amps sound better when hit hard as they have
the easy over distortion characteristics, solid state is harsh sounding.
Even harmonics of tube amps will produce distoritions an octave above
and two octaves above the fundamental. Tube amps with the odd harmonics
produce square wave odd harmonics, with the first harmonic a octave and
a fifth above the fundamental and the second appearing harmonic (the
5th) on the 2 octaves and a third above the fundamental, the 7th or
fourth apearing harmonic aould be at two octaves and a dominate 7th
above the fundamental. This alone shows that the harmonics of a
distortion of a solid state amp will sound quite discordant, and a tube
amplifier would sound much cleaner with the same distortion levels.
Note that this is when the amplifiers are producting distortion, not
normally heard at usual listening volumens. A tube amplifier will have
more residual hum in it than most solid state amps, usually are
transformer isolated which unless very well done may cause proplems with
frequency response and consume large amounts of power, particularly in
an Arizona summer when you are trying to keep the temps in the house
below about 80 degrees with it 120+ outside.
The bottom liune is that what sounds best for you is what IS best for
you, maybe not for me or anyone else, but it's perfect for you!
Bonnie *:>
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