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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.

 

 

emergingsoul

Showing 1 response by perkri

perkri
888 posts
 

I’ve been listening to tube’s exclusively for a couple of decades now. Until recently… Built my own 30w class a amp, paired it with a tube front end (I know, can’t let go of those tubes…) 

This SS amp has changed my opinions about gear. This amp, paired with a vintage Marantz 7T (which I fully recapped) sounds much better than I thought it would. Was never interested in SS, especially vintage SS, but my opinions are changing.

Built a single ended EL84 amp, and am about to build a single ended EL34 and a tube pre to go with it. 
 

Ive stopped thinking about wether SS or tubes are better, they are just different and I like different things about both. I’m fortunate to be able to switch out between different amps, SS and Tube, push pull, single ended tube and SS as well as class and and class ab amps, tube and SS preamps and different types of speakers - horns, electrostatics, sealed, ported, horn loaded single drivers etc. DIY has its benefits…

Its all about learning for me. 
 

I tend to find absolute statements such as the OP’s to be counter productive, and not particularly open minded.

 

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