Overtubing? Danger?


I like the sound of tube amps. When I was a kid, my family had one of the huge music consoles and I was always in amazement when the back was removed for maintenance and a whole city of tubes was revealed. Plus, it sounded fat and rich.

Today, I am trying to recapture that sound, but I wonder. What does a signal from a CD transport, with tubes, sent to a pre-amp, with tubes, sending a signal to an amp, with tubes due to the sound? Is more tube better or is it overkill?
matchstikman

Showing 1 response by upscaleaudio

Some tubes may be in store for you...you aren't getting married! There are no truisms for any type of gear. A tube preamp or power amp CAN measure and sound very much like what we may consider a "solid state sound".

Then there are preamps and power amps that have that golden glow. Can you get to much "tube"?? I don't know about that...but no matter what you can get good or bad tonal balance. And it could be 100% solid state OR tube!

And it depends on what speakers you have as well as your room, then finally...your tastes.

Getting past that...there is certainly a connection with life via a tube system. And you can stick your toe in the water pretty easy via a hybrid product...or maybe just a tube CD or preamp.

It's funny...while I am typing this I am listening to an oldies radio station, and they are playing the theme song from James Bond "Goldfinger". Have not heard that one for a jillion years...but remember how I felt when I first saw the movie! When I hear my fave music on tube gear it's the same deal. How do you explain that feeling?