Tube amps and a Stradivarius


I was mixing an orchestra in a church and the conductor who was my friend wanted me to hear one of the musicians play their Stradivarius violin for me back at the mixer. The sound was so beautiful it seemed like there was already reverb on it. I was brought to tears simply because of the beauty and I'd never hear such an instrument before.

Tube amps are not technically as accurate as solid-state but they sound more musical, I would submit that they sound that way because of the ring of the tubes just like the reverb of the Stradivarius violin. I believe the vibration of the sound from the speakers excite the tubes and there is a pleasant reverb effect. In mixing vocals there is an important effect in the reverb processor called pre delay and that time delay before the reverb is actuated in the processor is like the time delay of the speakers making the tubes ring. Thoughts?

128x128donavabdear

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Triodes are more linear than transistors, which can also make them sound more realistic than solid state.

Movie theaters use solid state amplifiers, so your point isn't a very good one. I've heard better dynamics in home theater systems than at movie theaters.

I still don't think the best class D amps are as smooth and holographic as the best tube amps, but they are getting better.