Circuit design involves an approach that plays to benefits and not faults. All components feature both.
The thread title is not a question, rather a statement. It is of course true.
Does this mean that no serious audio engineer should design circuits with valves? Funny...
Can I just say that I wrote the headline to get people talking. When I read the body of the text I kind of realised that I don't think I communicated what I had intended to.
So let me write that first of all I hadn't intended to be antagonistic. I was genuinely seeking to discuss and in part pose the question that I have long pondered since that solid state designer in question said this about valves.
How does it affect a system - is it a ringing? a feedback? what? If there is a feedback loop in the audio chain then I can get how it simply cannot be benign. Likewise if damper rings just don't work where does it leave us?
All said and done - if it so fundamentally flawed, how is it that so many respected buyers and designers both use valves and manage the issue?
I've been using solid state for a while, but I must say that I was beguiled with a very simple single ended amp I once borrowed for a month.
I'm not big into CD, but needed a CD player, and got one with a valve output stage and must say it sounds pretty good.
I'm going through an audio epiphany in the last year or two and have moved more and more towards more body, warmth and romance - maybe valves is the next step