how close in sound can a tube and ss amp sound ?


i have observed threads requesting advice regarding tube sounding solid state amps, within a price point.

i wonder how to confirm such a request.

in addition to recommendations, what about comparing a particular ss amp to a particular tube amp using an experimental design where bias, or preconception has been eliminated ?

has anyone tested the hypothesis that he/she cannot detect the difference between a tube and a ss amp, within the same power range, price point and minimizing interaction problems, such as impedeance mismatches ?

on the other hand if someone is seeking a tube-like sound out of a solid state amp, i would assume that one would use a "classic" sounding tube amp, e.g., cj mv 45, cj 75, cj 100, or cj mv125 as the tube amp and try to find a ss amp that is indistinguishable from the sound of the classic tube amp.

i have found that many ss amps differ with respect to bass and treble response from many tube amps.

in my own case, i would love to find a 120 watt ss amp which sounds like my vtl tube amp. unfortunately, i am not optimistic.

in other threads, some people have stated that it is impossible to find a ss amp that is "tube-like", in the classic sense.
mrtennis

Showing 4 responses by unsound

It seems to me that a lot of the attention on this thread about the differences between ss and tubes is referenced to how they differ in regard to how they clip, even if the clipping is inaudible(?!). I can understand that the clipping might be so minor that the distortion that certain low levels of clipping is generating, might not obviously sound like clipping, but manifest itself as some other perceived audible consequences. With all that said, it would seem apparent that the best recourse would be to avoid clipping all together. It would also seem apparent that the best way to do so would be with more power. While the speaker load, room volume, desired dB levels, and program source will determine what power requirements will actually be needed. Though not necessarily in all cases, it would seem that dollar for dollar it would be easier to accomplish that with ss.
Orpheus10, if the load has a higher than typical numerical impedance (15 Ohms?) a ss amp would typically reduce power, while the tube amp would maintain power. Conversely if the load has lower than typical numerical impedance (2 Ohms?) a tube amp would typically reduce power, and the ss amp would typically increase power. That coupled with the phase angles mentioned above all have an influence on the amount of power an amplifier is able to provide. Don't let your experience with small sampling lead to blanket conclusions. It's possible your lower power rated tube amp is providing more power than your higher rated power ss amp into the load you provide them, but it's just as possible that with a different load the outcome might be reversed. Just to further complicate things, there are other design considerations that might subjectively lead you to believe one amp is more powerful than an other in a given system, but objectively wont neccesarilly measure that way. The numbers used in ratings taken out context, can lose context.