• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Ancient question: tubes or solid state?

Good article

MartinV56 said:
It is a problem of taste, we could analyze the work of German philosopher E. Kant on theory of taste, but I believe that the article referred to on the link ye may clarify something about the old discussion.

http://www.milbert.com/tstxt.htm
Click to expand...

Found it very usefull I was impressed with the balance between tech and subjectives considerations...

At last this was very clear:

"Tubes sound louder and have a better signal-to-noise ratio because of this extra subjective head room that transistor amplifiers do not have. Tubes get punch from their naturally brassy overload characteristics. Since the loud signals can be recorded at higher levels, the softer signals are also louder, so they are not lost in tape hiss and they effectively give the tube sound greater clarity. The feeling of more bass response is directly related to the strong second and third harmonic components which reinforce the "natural"' bass with "synthetic" bass [5]. In the context of a limited dynamic range system like the phonograph, recordings made with vacuum tube preamplifiers will have more apparent level and a greater signal to system noise ratio than recordings made with transistors or operational amplifiers."

Personaly I just found that tube gear reveals better the mid ranges. depending the music you want to hear that is good or bad... If you want to hear classic maybe you should use tubes, in the other hand, for regaeton maybe you should consider solid state gea as a better answer... :music:
 
really?

Blue Shadow said:
Can't be an ancient question because although this topic has been whipped to death, neither of these are ancient. Heck electricity has only been around a bit over a hundred years, by no means ancient. So I guess we can't hash this out again. To each his own or both.
Click to expand...


LOL, right, let's talk about ancient Egypt !!!!! :thmbsp:
 
Sure quite a few vintage and or tube pieces designed a certain way can be
midrange heavy, or shall we say rolled off at the frequecncy extremes, but
it certainly does not need to be and many are not.

For me tubes have a better sense of realism and air that let things float in
a way solid state does not to where I get into the music more.

As they say everything is subjective, but I find tubes do all music well and
have no need to use a solid state amp for any music. For a Sub amp I'd use
a large solid state amp so I do not have to build some giant tube amp or get
a rather large horn loaded sub that I can't fit anywhere. :)

For now this thread is fine, but if it gets out of hand it will be TERMINATED!
 
Let's kill this thread. You might as well ask, "Does the sun rise or set?" To me it is a not too bright of a question, more like a troll question.
 
There were batteries in Iraq 2200 years ago...

I don't think they had any audio equipment though :thumbsdn:
 
Sorry I just didn't understand that...

English it's not my mother tongue and I just don't know what do you mean.
Click to expand...
Avionic was just thinking outloud and didn't mean to go there.:D

FWIW, some of the best reproduced sound i've heard used a combination of tube and solid state technology.
 
Just new here...

Fishstink said:
Socio, Why did you post this on a tube thread? For a joke? start a war? or to sit back and watch? Purpose please?
Click to expand...

I am just new here and new to the Hi fi world, maybe I should do more research before asking.

Posting here and there was made to read what does "tube people" think and what "non tube" pepople think.

I found that at the Tube parlor people were just more open to this question.

I just really didn't want to bother no one with this, make you or other people lose time or precious bits in the cyberspace. I am sorry.

Could you forgive me???? :tears:
 
bowtie427ss said:
Avionic was just thinking outloud and didn't mean to go there.:D

FWIW, some of the best reproduced sound i've heard used a combination of tube and solid state technology.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the explanaition and for your opinion about the question. :D
 
Tube, sounds really good, easier to build by hand.

That said, any amp I build myself. I'm mortally afflicted with proud papa syndrome.
 
I actually think socioloco has made for a nice conversation here. He has brought a few things that I hadn't ever thought about. He is very active in this discussion, and seems to be very sincere in hearing our opinions...

What happened to the no attitude?

Myself, I've only ever had SS.. and would really like to try tube.. BUT, I can't afford to buy any really nice amps.. or rather, it's damn near impossible for me to justify the cost.. but yet, if I could build my own, I would have some probably for at least my horns...

I don't know which I like better, or would like better.. what I know is what I've ever had.. since I got into audio in the late 70's
 
Fishstink said:
Let's kill this thread. You might as well ask, "Does the sun rise or set?" To me it is a not too bright of a question, more like a troll question.
Click to expand...

It just kind of sits there really. Fusion and all... churning oceans of superheated gas, resonating, pulsing, ejecting charged particles... you know, the usual.

attachment.php
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

crouse
? Tubes vs. SS Class A
Replies
17
Views
971
Cactus Bob
Cactus Bob
socioloco
Ancient question: bare wire, banana plugs, or spades?
2
Replies
34
Views
9K
socioloco
socioloco
thedelihaus
Tubes, Solid State, or Both? Can we make a poll of this?
Replies
16
Views
1K
OvenMaster
OvenMaster
y2keglide
K-horns tubes and solid state?
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
rocknroll1
rocknroll1
Ohighway
Signal path question: Tube amps with powered (solid state) subwoofers.
Replies
14
Views
2K
Tuxman
Tuxman
Back
Top Bottom