I run mine with my SS amp and have no problem with most rock at all. Now, to get a nice jazz and classical sound, I have to go to my tube amps. It just doesn't sound quite right with the SS. One thing I've found with rock, especially CD's, is that most are recorded like junk..compressed to within an inch of it's life and made to sound best in a vehicle or something other than a home rig. Those that are recorded poorly really sound bad through the Pi Towers. Those that are recorded well sound very, very good IMO. YMMV.