Anyone can buy a Dennis Had tube amp for 1500 bucks or so...bought mine slightly used a few years ago for around 1100. Score one for the Regular Guy.
For anyone who moved from tubes to solid state — a question
I'm the happy owner of a fairly new tube preamp and monoblock amps. I love it and have bought new tubes. To have another option for warmer weather or possibly a second listening room, I got a very good solid state integrated. I've run the tube preamp with the solid state amp and it sounds quite nice. I love all tubes, too.
But this question is for you. Please forget the convenience factor for a moment, including the issue of tube replacement etc. Also, forget about those cases where you bought new speakers and needed more power, etc.
Assuming you had quality tube gear with sufficient power — here's the question if you abandoned tubes for SONIC reasons:
What what is that tubes couldn't give you?
What did your solid state gear do for you which was so much better that you divorced to marry anew?
I'm curious about what people list as the positive sonic reasons they love solid state (including A, AB, D, etc.).
Thanks.
But this question is for you. Please forget the convenience factor for a moment, including the issue of tube replacement etc. Also, forget about those cases where you bought new speakers and needed more power, etc.
Assuming you had quality tube gear with sufficient power — here's the question if you abandoned tubes for SONIC reasons:
What what is that tubes couldn't give you?
What did your solid state gear do for you which was so much better that you divorced to marry anew?
I'm curious about what people list as the positive sonic reasons they love solid state (including A, AB, D, etc.).
Thanks.
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- 84 posts total
I learned a lot from my thread, “Is there a SS amp that can satisfy a SET guy?”. The basic answer is no. Tubes and SS are a different paradigm. They approach producing music from different perspectives. My understanding is that tubes are a more visceral experience and SS more intellectual. When I listen to my tube based system, I get emotionally carried away. When I listen to my SS system I get interested. For me, emotional is more true to the essence of the music. |
Correction: the Matrix 801 Series 2 speaker is nominal 8 Ohms (not the 6 Ohms that I had reported). Specifications: https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-matrix-801-series-2-loudspeaker-specifications With 3 minima of about 6 Ohms. Measurements: https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-matrix-801-series-2-loudspeaker-measurements Perhaps this helps explain how the new tube amps sound so great with them. Anyhoo, for the record. |
When I listen to my tube based system, I get emotionally carried away. When I listen to my SS system I get interested. For me, emotional is more true to the essence of the music. My Sansui must be a "tube" amplifier without me knowing it....It does not sound only detailed but visceral also and warm.... :) I truly think that the differences that a good embedding can make is over the relative differences betweeen Tubes and solid state.....But i dont have experience with high end tubes amplifiers then....... :) It is just that i cannot think that my sound from the sansui is in any way like some describe S.S. Perhaps some dont know it Sansui takes 25 years to reproduce exactly one against the other their best tube amplifier with their best solid state.... Their goal was to reproduce the tube amp Sansui in their Sansui S.S..... That was a complete success.... I dont have the link to the video tough no more.... Instructive to understand a difference that only relatively exist not by virtue of an eternal difference in design but by accident and tech history... A good embed S.S. amplifier and a good embed tube amp. are on par..... The question must be: is it reallly rightfully embedded mechanically, electrically, and acoustically? The question is not wich is better a S.S. amp or a tube one.... It is relative to their quality/price ratio and finally to their embeddings in the system, room, and house.....Theorically we can design a S.S. amplifier to sound like a tube amp, Sansui has proved it long ago.... |
Tubes and SS are a different paradigm. They approach producing music from different perspectives. My understanding is that tubes are a more visceral experience and SS more intellectual. This type of generalization is common in a variety of audio debates, but not really true. The right SS setup can be emotionally very engaging, and tubes can leave you cold in the wrong setup. |
- 84 posts total