how close in sound can a tube and ss amp sound ?
"But so far no-one is acknowledged as having found a means of causing a transistor amp to actually sound like a tube amp." I agree for the most part, but see The Carver Challenge for an exception. I believe Carver marketed an amp based on results of this challenge, but that seems to be the end of it. |
Yup! All you have to do is clip the amp and you will know the difference between tube and transistor. That's the tip of the iceberg and the rest is already well 'documented'. You will find many transistor amps that are lauded as having 'tube-like' qualities. But so far no-one is acknowledged as having found a means of causing a transistor amp to actually sound like a tube amp. The bottom line is quite simple: if you want the sound of transistors don't get a tube amp and if you want the sound of tubes don't get a transistor amp. Much discussion could ensue but that will be the gist of it. |
"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." I think you already have answered your question. In my opinion and with my system the roland model 6 monoblocks I have come close to my audiovalve challanger 180 mono's but not the same in regards with the female vocals,jazz and even pink floyd when they visit. I bet you will get a reply from Atmasphere and see what he thinks. |
Well, I had a Sonic Frontiers Power 2 tube amp and while I liked how the amp sounded in my system it actualy did not sound tube compared to my former Quicksilver or Counterpoint amps. So in my case a tube amp does not always equate to 'tubey' sound. I heard several B&K amps that leans towards tube like sound versus an older Aragon 2004 amp that I had many years back that was the completely opposite. Just my 2 cents :) |
