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Thread: Why do some people like low powered tube amps???

  1. #1
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    Why do some people like low powered tube amps???

    Stereophile just tested a $10k 10watt tube amp.They claim it sounds so musical and great. It has 4% distortion at 10 watts( bad).How can a tube amp with a lot of distortion sound like the real thing?? A good Solid-State amp with less than .1% distortion and better transient response sounds much more like live sound, than a (piece of crap) tube amp.If you don't like the sound of a good Solid-Stateamp, then you don't like something closer to real live sound. Also a good jazz cd will sound much better then a typical distorted vinyl system!! Tubes and vinyl SUCK compared to a good cd and S.S. amps. If you don't agree with me ,tell me why-RUDY

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    Wowzers, think I'll get a bag of popcorn and some beer; this thread should be interesting.

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    I packed up all my SS amps because the consensus was that they sucked. So i bought some tube amps, and now they suck. Looks like I'm stuck with whistling to myself.

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    Senior Member richluvsound's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sundown View Post
    Wowzers, think I'll get a bag of popcorn and some beer; this thread should be interesting.


    Hey Rudy ,

    if you think that combo sounds best you ,then who am I to tell you any different ?

    enjoy , Rich

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    Quote Originally Posted by richluvsound View Post
    Hey Rudy ,

    if you think that combo sounds best you ,then who am I to tell you any different ?

    enjoy , Rich
    Lol! I'm actually going to buy some steaks and do some grilling tonight

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    Senior Member richluvsound's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JeffW View Post
    I packed up all my SS amps because the consensus was that they sucked. So i bought some tube amps, and now they suck. Looks like I'm stuck with whistling to myself.
    Don't tell me you spent 10k to listen to 4% distortion ?

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    Quote Originally Posted by richluvsound View Post
    Don't tell me you spent 10k to listen to 4% distortion ?
    No, I spent a lot more than that to populate a shed. My tube amps are fairly affordable in comparison, but they're all 40+ years old. No idea of distortion figures, I guess it's a moot point as I'm rapidly running out of topologies.

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    Senior Member richluvsound's Avatar
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    I guess some like chicken mcNuggets and others like Caviar ..... "Please Pass me the fish eggs Jeff ?"

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    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rudy sesztak View Post
    Stereophile just tested a $10k 10watt tube amp.They claim it sounds so musical and great.

    abt 90% of Stereopile is dumb crap. Suck it up at your own risk.
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

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    I agree!!

    I agree with SEAWOLF97. The guys of stereophile are full of crap!!- RUDY

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    Most people dont understand the fact that in most tube amps, push pull, the nasty distortion products are cancelled in the output transformer. Many high quality tube amps can be around 10%THD but these distortion products are actually pleasing to the ear. Most will agree that tubes sound warmer and more musical than solid state and many will also agree that high powered solid state is also the best for bottom end. This assumption is only made because most audio people have not heard and never will hear any tube amp of more than a few hundred watts. There are many to be had at well over 500 watts. Pretty much though, it is all personal preference.
    Allan.

  12. #12
    Maron Horonzakz
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    " Most will agree" Where did you get that comment from,,, I dont agree,,,, I can hear harmonic distortion and dont like the distortion added to my music,,,

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    Quote Originally Posted by Allanvh5150 View Post
    ... Most will agree that tubes sound warmer and more musical than solid state and many will also agree that high powered solid state is also the best for bottom end.
    Allan.
    I like the sound of tubes that I've heard so far - I can say its not quite as crisp on abrupt-attack techno drums and such,
    but its a subtle difference, and its more than made up for in the sound of acoustic bass & guitar, jazz horns and human voice.
    That's with the custom 3 ways I have - 2234 woof with 2405 slot and smith horn mids --- a fairly efficient combo.

    Buts that's just my old ears with a "cheap" Jolida amps (40w/ch) ...
    I'm sure with a Manley amp or more high end gear, its even more subtle.
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    Senior Member spkrman57's Avatar
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    I like single ended tube amps, preferably triode types!

    With very efficient spkrs good tube amps project a rather lush/romantic type of sound.

    If you are of the rock and roll sound with high dynamics then SS would be the better route to follow.

    I listen to classical/blues/jazz and then classic rock for my listening.

    I use a 300B SET (single ended triode) for 8 wpc and I paid less than $2400 for mine. I use JBL 2226 midbass drivers with a JBL 2446 compression driver/Be phrams on a 500hz round wooden Edgar tractix horn with a modified Pi crossover(1.6khz) voiced to my liking!

    To my ears SS sounds too sterile for my liking!

    Just my 2 cents worth!

    Regards, Ron
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    Quote Originally Posted by Allanvh5150 View Post
    There are many to be had at well over 500 watts.
    Allan.
    plse clue us in to "the many" well over 500 watts
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

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