Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4
newbie
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OP
newbie
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4 |
Newbie question, Tube or Solid state? Which one is better for excellent sound? In the beginning of Audio Tubes were the only thing, now we have solid state. For stereo sound which one will work better?
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
CH, although tube amplification can be designed to produce transparent sound that's equally excellent to solid state designs and is indistinguishable(i.e. it doesn't have a flawed "tube sound"), in many cases tube equipment is inferior with respect to distortion and flatness of frequency response. This is in addition to being much more expensive, so the sensible cost-effective buy is solid state rather than obsolescent tube technology.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044 |
To take a slight deviation from John (who is factually correct), some people enjoy the sound of uncorrected (non-transparent?) tubes. The distortion is even ordered, which can be pleasing to the ear. I have not heard tubes very much, so I can't say which is better for me. But some people definitely do prefer tubes. Doesn't mean they're right, doesn't mean they're wrong.
Me, I don't want to spend the money for old tech, especially tech that doesn't support multichannel.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
Well, since others have braved this volatile subject, I'll stick my head out. The difficulty with your question is the "Which one is better for excellent sound?" part. The problem is that "better" is subjective not objective. Had you asked which one is more accurate, the answer would have been easy. But, as Ken pointed out, many prefer the "less accurate" choice. Since that preference is subjective, those who do ought not be berated for that preference. Unfortunately, we are unable to tell you which you would consider to be "better." Unlike Ken, I have heard tubes, but it's been about 40 or 50 years, and everything back then was tubes . Shoot, I can't remember what I had for breakfast let alone what tubes sounded like half a century ago. (OOPS! Just remembered I haven't had breakfast yet ). But, like Ken, I'm a "multichannel" guy now, so my preference is obvious and my choice easy.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,344 Likes: 1
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,344 Likes: 1 |
Do I have to remind you it's the most important meal of the day ?
Getting to 2,000 posts; one year at a time vp160/qs8/qs4/SVS 2000/m60/Monolith 3x200 amp
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,473 Likes: 7
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,473 Likes: 7 |
I was thinking about your comment about not investing in old tech.
When you think about it, much of todays devices/products are based on old tech....and simply altered by the passing decades.
...just rambling....
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
Quote:
Do I have to remind you it's the most important meal of the day ?
No, you don't. I immediately went to the kitchen and had my normal breakfast; a glass of orange juice, a bowl of banana walnut oatmeal with fresh banana slices and blueberries, two slices of real whole wheat toast, and a glass of milk.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
Gotta love the way that OJ and cow juice mix in the ol' belly, eh?
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,805
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,805 |
VERY and I mean VERY diplomatic answers guys. Jack Did you remember to take your vitamins after breakfast?
LIFE IS SHORT. DON'T BE A DICK.
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Re: Solid State or Tubes?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
Quote:
Jack Did you remember to take your vitamins after breakfast?
Yes, I did (Centrum Silver, however, not Geritol). But, thank you for asking. Ya never know when I'll forget.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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