Having been a tube head and a SS type for many years (dual personalities) i find the gainclone (GC) to be a sort of middle between the two.It has the greater control of the SS but a more gentle but more defined sound of tubes.After running my 206e horns with 3 different amps PP6Bq5,marantz 2230 and the GC i still find the best sound from the chip amp.Not to say that if i ran the horns on a 10K$ SET that it may not sound better but i dont have that kind of money.Ane with the efficency of the horns a 200 watt SS is just at idle for normal listening. ron