That is a really nice quote!
Showing 4 responses by atmasphere
No amp can drive all speakers made. You first have to sort out that distinction. Then there is the simple fact that tubes have a different sound (less odd ordered harmonic distortion) which is why they are described as 'smoother'. You have to sort out if you like that. So there are preferences involved. In my case, if there is brightness (extension and speed are not brightness by the way...), its a deal-breaker, so I avoid transistors. |
Csontos, you might want to read this: http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php On ESLs, OTLs are often described as 'the best'. Tubes in general usually work better on horns and high efficiency speakers than transistors. Some speakers are such low efficiency and/or impedance that you need an amp with a lot of power and is comfortable with low impedances. In such a case transistors will likely serve better (despite the misgivings I have about transistors). If you read the article at that link then you know more than most about the matching issues involved. |
Even though tubes may have the most amplification faults, those faults are an easy trade off for the characteristics I value in entertainment playback as opposed to the desired clinical playback the switching amplifiers provide in my studio. The reason tubes are still around half a century after they were supposed to be obsolete is that people like them. They like them because it is easier to get a tube amplifier to obey human hearing rules than it is with transistors. Its that simple. So I would not describe tubes as having 'amplification faults'. If anything they have less. We use them in our studio too :) |