If solid-state is so awful, then almost all the sources (including LP's) would be unlistenable because record companies and mastering engineers all but abandoned valves decades ago. In addition, any "texture" would have been removed at the first recording session!!!

Big US amps are hardly a reference point I'm afraid, certainly the popular ones which found their way to the UK. Many a Krell, ARC and even later Levinson has been deeply shamed by the likes of Naim, Quad (if the load was easy) and AVI in my opinion, let alone Copland at its best.

Valve-like ss amps - Anyone tried the Audio Analogue stuff? The now old Bellini/Donizetti pre-power sounded lovely, although the output stage could pop very easily if abused..