What is your experience when deciding between the two technologies? Or do you own amps of both types and use them for different things? Are they really different?
For me they very sound different, and since the first time I heard a tube headphone amp I was enchanted by its rawness. I had been driving my Abyss AB1266 Phi TC with a solid state amp (off-brand with Chinese components) and it sounded great but I had read these headphones really need a good amp so I went to a store to see what can drive them better, and tried a tube amp from Germany. 10 seconds in I was able to tell this is what I needed. Might be a matter of taste? Yes, but to each his own, I have read people who hate the Abyss and also others like me who love them.
I’d like to know your opinions too.
I think your way of approaching a listening session is similar to mine. I had the Elites before changing to the AB 1266 Phi TC and would really recommend them so good luck with the Empyreans, also there is the 2nd version coming soon, Empyrean II seems to be the name. For acoustic guitars or voices or very detailed drum patterns planar magnetics on tube (I’m using an AudioValve amp) always leaves me in awe!