bagwell359
Headphoneus Supremus
Unless we are talking very high end tubes I agree that SS and hybrids with SS output is the correct formula. Planar bass strong points are rise time and air movement which results in a quick and solid impact audibly. Open backs support that generally, but there is usually some loss of bass under 60. Some like the extra bass with the backwave blocked but it just muddies up the initial impact IMO (w/o ports) - thankfully almost all planars I know take very well to EQ (assuming enough amp headroom), and you can get the bass back with the impact/speed intact.Auteur OG really benefits from the control and tightness of SS amps. So much so that I'm currently questioning if it's worth it to trade all that for the extra mid range euphonics that you get from tubes. The OG drivers are already fast and tonaly sweet that I think I might prefer SS with them instead of the exaggeration they give with tubes.
Tubes I have tried with HFM planars tend to blunt that impact described above, and hence the advantage - and of course OTL amps are a no go with planars at/under 60 ohms (if not a bit higher).
@Cat Whisperer Bob's Auteur sounds quite excellent with the Liquid Platinum (hybrid) and the Aune S17 - in that session Autuer > HEK Stealth >> HE-6 SE >>> HD-600 (on both amps).