High fidelity is about being true to the source, not what a random person likes.
Of course, some always leave the loudness control on, or blast the volume until it distorts badly.
But there are always bad auto drivers, and drug abusers, as well. That doesn't mean it's a good thing to do.
What many think of as the "tube sound" is actually the bad aspects, that many tube designers have tried to reduce
or eliminate. The good parts of tube sound are more subtle than some think, but are still worth seeking.
Of course, some always leave the loudness control on, or blast the volume until it distorts badly.
But there are always bad auto drivers, and drug abusers, as well. That doesn't mean it's a good thing to do.
What many think of as the "tube sound" is actually the bad aspects, that many tube designers have tried to reduce
or eliminate. The good parts of tube sound are more subtle than some think, but are still worth seeking.
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Totally agreed.
Also, expensive.
Pretty much the only two tube amps I've built that I actually liked were a gigantic push-pull 300B thing with three chassis (external power supply), using UTC LS63 OPTs, and a 2-stage, center-tapped plate choke loaded LTP, DC-coupled, push-pull 2A3 amp with Tango OPTs. Did I mention expensive?
These Chinese line stages with >16dB of gain at high THD will give you a version of 'tube sound', but I agree it's not representative of a really good sound.
However, I do think a little buffered anode follower line stage with maybe 6dB of gain is a cheap way to get a listen to a bit of the 'tube sound' of the better kind. The irony is that it won't be hugely different from 'solid state' sound of the better kind! The differences are indeed subtle.