Kex your idea of warm is basically what I used to think. I now feel more like the way it was put in a couple posts, having emotion, inviting. What I am about to say is definitely in general terms. Solid state will deliver more of the transcients and impact of a live show but tubes convey more musical textures, macro and micro dynamics. This is more easily demonstrated by listening to acoustic instruments and I also think vocals. There's no doubt of the trade off. There's a lot of people that still like solid state and think I'm crazy for switching gear. It's not that I don't like Krell, I just would rather live with the CJ for my serious sit and listen sessions. If my listening hadn't become so diverse and I was still just into Hard Rock I probably would have stayed with solid state. I play most of my Rock and Pop on my second system while working out. Although I do bring some of it in to listen to on the CJ and it's not bad. It lacks the bite & kick but there's a lot more other information that makes up for that. I can't say if it's tubes or just CJ itself but I've been extremely happy with CJ. The things I hear from my equipment I've only experienced from much more expensive gear. I'm referring to mainly the information and imaging. For instance, put on Clapton's, Wonderful Tonight, from Slow Hand, and the sound stage is all across the front, Clapton's voice is in the near center and when the background singers come in they are plainly away from Clapton to the right slightly behind and the girl's voices are separately audible, the organ way off to the right etc. Some of this is attributable to the AN DAC as well because when I had to use my older CJ solid state DAC the singers were back in the center and meshed with Clapton. Just as a side note Slow Hand was with me during some high end auditions and as a reference I just started bringing it with me all the time so I know this album really well and I've heard it on a lot of different equipment. On really good gear you will be able to hear Clapton's voice slurr on All The Way. It's like he has false teeth or something. Geez, I am getting a bad habit of rambling.

I'd like to try mixing SS and tubes to see what happens. When I have time I think I'll bring my Adcom 5500 into the main system to give it a listen. I'd really like to get my hands on a higher quality amp but I don't know anyone here with this type of gear.