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Tube Power vs Solid State Power

I continually hear Tube power is more powerful than Solid State Power. IE; “A 20 watt tube amp’s power is like a 60 watt Solid State Amp’s Power” and so on… Is this true ???

I always think of the “What’s Heavier, a pound of Feathers or pound of Rocks story?” A pound is a pound right ? 
Maybe someone could offer some thoughts and explain if this is true or not. 
Thanks
flasd

Showing 3 responses by alexberger

alexberger
938 posts
 
Read this:
https://evanuik.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/the-cool-sound-of-tubes.pdf
alexberger
938 posts
 
Triodes have much less distortion and amplification element vs any type of transistors.
Plus triodes have very low 3rd order harmonics vs transistors and pentodes.
To get low distortion in transistor amplifier a deep global feedback should be used. 
This feedback shifts distortions to higher orders. Out brain is super sensitive to height order of distortions. Sound become more harsh, macrodynamic is sufferings, instruments tone become flat and artificial.
Also transistors have thermal distortions that tubes don't have. This issue solution is class A.
alexberger
938 posts
 
1. IMHO height-sensitive speakers or mid- sensitive speakers in small room are must.
Powerful amplifier with low sensitivity speakers is the wrong solution. Voice coil heating causes compression. More power you give  - more compression you get.
2. Height-sensitive speakers work best with low power simple schematic triode tube amplifiers SET or push-pull. This combination gives a real transparency, micro dynamics, musical details, tone naturalness, natural life like dynamics.
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