Articnoise
Headphoneus Supremus
Ditto - my HE-6 was fed by my Pioneer Spec 2 amp (250 wpc) with no issue - ran it that way for over a year. Blew the driver first day I hooked it up to my SA-9900 - not sure what happened or why it happened but I'm suspecting distortion, as I was having an issue with the amp at the time (since fixed). So maybe it's not clean power but distortion, which as we know is what typically blows speakers.
Yes an SS amp that is clipping or is malfunctioning has a lots of malicious distortion and will sooner or later blow your speakers/headphone. In fact a "small amp" that is pressed over its limits is like a ticking bomb.
Normally tube amps are clipping softer, it’s still bad for the drivers in the long run, but less bad than the clipping from a SS amp.