No one talks about what I believe is an important factor in the difference between the sound of tubes and transistors. Tubes have a far superior dielectric, or lack thereof, because they have a near vacuum surrounding the conducting elements. The signal is not impeded or impinged upon by anything, not even air.
Transistors or semiconductors require the signal to pass through layers of solid materials (silicon, plastic, metal) which are far from ideal dielectrics. Just as a cable with a poor dielectric sounds closed-in and clogged, so do transistors when compared with vacuum tubes.
Transistors or semiconductors require the signal to pass through layers of solid materials (silicon, plastic, metal) which are far from ideal dielectrics. Just as a cable with a poor dielectric sounds closed-in and clogged, so do transistors when compared with vacuum tubes.