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Tube amps and dynamic range?

gearhound

gearhound

Lunatic Member
Not sure exactly how to pose the question?
I have an old mono tube amp (PP 6V6 - 12 watts) that I use with an Ipod as a source....playing into a pair of stacked Coral/Frazier DIY speakers.
On older....analog recorded material....no problem.
On SOME newer.....digital recorded material....I hear audible distortion at higher volume levels.
Is this a COMMON PROBLEM with audio tube amps??
I'm a relative newbie to tube amps in an audio application.
Thanks!!


Steve :scratch2:
 
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Probably, the newer material is compressed... and as such, is operating at a higher AVERAGE sound level than the older material.

This can cause some small tube amps to "run out of power supply"... they have plenty of power supply for peaks, but NOT for sustained very-loud level output...

Mind you, not all tube amps will be as susceptible to this. Depends on the power supply, and related factors...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Actually tube amps (as mentioned) usually clip easier than their solid-state brethren. This can lead to the idea that a '50W tube amps sounds as loud as a 200W solid-state amp'.

I'm running a pair of 15W SE amps and I have to play them LOUD to hear the amps clip - and this is with only 90dB speakers.
 
We don't know if we are talking input distortion, or if there are componets that need restoration.

The speaker SPL is a good point. I have quiet a few assortment of both SS and tube amsp and none ever clip. Speakers being used are SPL 104. It's rare if I use more than half a watt.
 
I replaced every electrolytic capacitor in the amp.
Any out-of-spec resistors, were replaced with NOS Allen Bradley carbon resistors.
The amp looked almost out-of-box new when I bought it.
My DIY speakers use a Coral Alnico horn tweeter and an 8" Frazier woofer with a HUGE ceramic magnet....am NOT sure what the SPL is?
Plays fine 98% of the time..................

Steve
 
I have noticed distortion when I am playing heavy metal extremely loud with my 4 watt per channel magnavox amp. The same type of music at the same levels with my Quad II amps (15 wpc) never clip. The power supply in the Maggie seems pretty small to me, but if played at normal loud levels it has no problems and sounds really good.
 
I should note that this was not made for audiophile applications.
But was made (in 1969) as a integrated tube PA amp.
Originally purchased by me....for use as a guitar amp (great in that application)....it was out of sheer curiosity that I plugged my Ipod into it!?
Compared to my SS audio gear....even mono, it seems to have great depth?
Probably looking at a stereo tube amp in my future.

Steve
 
After thinking about this logically, I'm going to speculate that the input signal is simply TOO HIGH. (i.e. Clipping the tube amp input with too much voltage.)

I'll also suggest that you turn down the volume on the iPod since you've probably used a stereo to mono connector to hook up the iPod to the monobloc. This, in itself, would generally be enough to overdrive the input. Especially if the iPod is set to maximum volume.

. . Falcon
 
I think Eddy is on the money here. Higher average output levels of more modern recordings are probably overdriving the amp. Cut the ipod volume down a bit and it should fix it up.
 
I tend to agree with FalconEddy's take on this one also.
I was up until 3am last night listening to everything piece of recording that RY COODER had ever made.
I dropped the Ipod volume down about 1/3 from maximum.
No problems whatsoever....and the music and sound was spectacular!!!
Thanks guys for the help!!!


Steve
 
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