Quote Originally Posted by RGA
Quite simply if it has that accurate sound...you know the type of sound that people say has a bit of etchiness common to a Bryston mated with a metal tweeter. If adjectives come out like check out the accuracy of these babies. Then guess what? It's not accuracy. You don't go to a live event saying check out the accuracy of that cymbol. Added grain is often noted as accurate because it sounds like added sparkle. Problem is so much of it sounds like this today that people don't have a proper refernece.
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From what I've read on this board, those who claim that solid state is "accurate" do so without benefit of listening tests but based on technical measurements. There are some exceptions, Skeptic being one. But these people don't strike me as the kind that say "check out this accuracy". They say check out the specs and the specs say it's accurate.

I am absolutely a subjectivist when it comes to the reproduction of music. It doesn't matter one whit to me how something measures but it is important how it reproduces music. This may sound pompous but with all the live music I'm exposed to being a musician who plays about 200 nights a year, I chose tubes to replicate that rather than solid state. I spent a great deal of time auditioning components before purchasing, simply because I have no intention of constantly upgrading so I wanted the best I could afford. The solid state units routinely did not provide the type of sound I would call "accurate". And the added grain of solid state doesn't sound like sparkle to me - it sounds like a coarse texture over the music, rendering it less than lifelike. The best solid state amps I auditioned (Sugden integrated, Klyne preamp) had less of this than the others. Krell, in particular because of the regard audiophiles have for this brand, disappointed me with their integrated althought their separates might be better. I heard the integrated and lost all interest in pursuing the chain. I even listened to some vintage gear. I was just about to buy something/anything because I was getting bored with the process when someone suggested I give tubes a try. I listened to 5 setups and decided on the Manley Stingray. It wasn't the best I heard but it was the best I could afford!