To me,most tube amps seem to sound like they have more power than a SS with equal power.Also if I remember right,tube amps have even order distortion vs. odd order distortion put out by SS amps.This may already have been mentioned.
"tube watts" versus "solid state watts"
I'm sure you, like me, have seen it written more than once that brand X tube amplifier, rated at 30WPC, sounded more powerful / more authoritative than brand Y solid state amplifier, also rated at 30WPC. Or that brand Z tube amp, only rated at 15W, was comfortably able to drive brand A speakers, because those 15 were tube watts and therefore up to the job. Heck, I think I've even heard the phenomenon with my own ears.
My question is: is there any basis in electrical engineering for this effect? Can we say scientifically what's going on here?
My question is: is there any basis in electrical engineering for this effect? Can we say scientifically what's going on here?