Solid state amps basically reproduce whatever you give them. If your source sucks, the sound will suck. Tube amps, on the other hand, color the sound. Tube enthusiasts find that coloration more enjoyable to the strict reproduction of the source. Audio being a subjective experience, you can't really claim one is better than the other. It's just a matter of preference. My suggestion would be to demo one and see if you share this impression before buying.