If I disagree (I agree 0%) with Letor's post, it does not mean he's wrong in his opinion. That's his OPINION, and I expressed disagreement on that opinion. My EXPERIENCE tells otherwise.
I like rock- progressive, industrial, metal, and to say that tubes can't do justice to these music, based ON MY EXPERIENCE, is not true. I have heard various SS gears that sound lame compared to other tube gears. SS gears always punchy? Nah, I've heard a name brand SS amp that sounds too 'bading' when playing rock music. Tubes always sound 'mataba'? Nah, there are a lot of colored tube amps, preamps, but there are also a lot of transparent tube amps, preamps.
Some forumers most likely know my biases- low-wattage single-ended triodes (I'm still trying to like PP), transparent tube preamps, high-efficiency speakers, solid-state phono stage, non-tubed CD player, and of course music from classical to heavy metal.
The opinion stated by Letor covers how many SS amps, Tube amps? What were the ancilliary equipment? Speakers, Preamp, cables, etc.?