Why is solid state more popular when tubes are better?
Yes tubes are more involved and require periodic maintenance. Hybrid tube components need not apply, these are really solid state.
Tubes are better for multiple reasons and yet the world and the trade prefers solid state. Those rare audio shops that are geared toward stereo listening and serious connoisseurs tend to Focus more on tubes. Those in business who like to improve volumes tend to offer solid state. All the YouTube channels looking to improve their business tend to be solid state. Maybe because tubes require much more expertise to sell, and there's lesser and lesser to go around. Solid state is more of a fast food commodity.
Tubes are difficult for businesses due to all the maintenance and complexity so you see it less often. Much much easier to sell hybrids or solid state.
I have tube amps. I have SS amps. The SS amps mainly sound the same when I let me head get out of the way. The tube amps all sound a bit different. Neither is better, they are just different. Depending on what speakers I have them hooked up to, they can be much different. Sometimes I like it. Sometimes I don't. Audio is always that way. That is why we buy so much crap. |
@atmasphere , do you have distortion measurements that you can share with us comparing your tube and class-D amplifiers? |
My stable of tube amps is down to a Sonic Frontier SFS-80, and Allnic M-3000 Mk. 2's. SS amps include Bryston 7B, Krell 300, Nad M33, Topping LA90 (to see what the hype was about), and I have a local tech putting together an amp with the latest Purifi modules for me (mainly to help him out). Like most I have had Macs pass through, Pass as well. In my main system where I have the Lyngdorf, if I set it to flat, the tube amps are unmistakably different. They don't sound the same as each other either. The solid state amps sound pretty much the same, until you push them hard. The Krells have a ton in reserve. If I let the Lyngdorf do its thing, the tube amps and SS amps sound surprisingly similar. They are a bit warmer still even though the bass is not quite as good. If I cross the mains over at 80Hz, the difference gets even smaller. (We had long lock-downs up here in Canada!). Then I looked at the correction data from the Lyngdorf. It was the same for the solid state amps, but different for the tube amps. It should have been obvious, but till you see it in your room, you don't expect the response to be that different for a tube amp. The Allnics are art, and the Sonic Frontiers is part of Canadian history, so I don't think I will part with them, but they are relegated to less used systems, though with entertaining, the Allnics are getting used more. Tube amps are conversation starters. |
@atmasphere , do you have distortion measurements that you can share with us comparing your tube and class-D amplifiers? |
