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

[Mr. Widget]

"Prolly." I have taken it to be semi shorthand for "probably" and haven't bothered to look it up. I was surprised to see its use in these forums expanding. It seems to me to belong in the class of RU and B4; usage I expect from forums populated by those too young to be able to drop out of high school, the eventual fate of many such users. Then again, I am almost certainly Old School. I still wince when "impact" is used as a verb. I know English is a vital language by virtue of its ability to evolve and adapt (unlike Latin, for instance), but that was an ignorant mistake by one person in the media and should have died rather than have been parroted until it caught on. Journalists and politicians should know the difference between effect and affect. Not knowing said difference causes a discomfort that most likely spawned the misuse of the innocent "impact" as a verb.

I don't particularly like to see that sort of "cute speak" here as we have members from all over the world with varying levels of command of English. We certainly don't need to make it even more difficult for them by tossing in a few word grenades.

On to the topic at hand:

I don't think anyone outside of amplified musicians going for a particular sound really likes massive distortion. A small amp rated at 10% distortion is probably doing so because they want to sound like they have more power than they have. If the amp has 10% distortion at 10 watts, it may have a good clean 2-3 watts. With moderately sensitive speakers that are 90dB/watt/meter 2-3 watts may be enough for many listeners, and a high efficiency speaker rarely needs more than that. If you want High SPLs, short of a <100dB/watt/meter speaker you will certainly need far more undistorted power.

Why do people like these amps? There are probably as many reasons as listeners, but some probably appreciate the sound produced by a very simple circuit. I am sure others simply like the idea. I have used some of these amps on tweeters and found them quite pleasing. I have never tried one on a full range system.


Widget

[Sundown]

I don't particularly like to see that sort of "cute speak" here as we have members from all over the world with varying levels of command of English. We certainly don't need to make it even more difficult for them by tossing in a few word grenades.

On to the topic at hand:

I don't think anyone outside of amplified musicians going for a particular sound really likes massive distortion. A small amp rated at 10% distortion is probably doing so because they want to sound like they have more power than they have. If the amp has 10% distortion at 10 watts, it may have a good clean 2-3 watts. With moderately sensitive speakers that are 90dB/watt/meter 2-3 watts may be enough for many listeners, and a high efficiency speaker rarely needs more than that. If you want High SPLs, short of a <100dB/watt/meter speaker you will certainly need far more undistorted power.

Why do people like these amps? There are probably as many reasons as listeners, but some probably appreciate the sound produced by a very simple circuit. I am sure others simply like the idea. I have used some of these amps on tweeters and found them quite pleasing. I have never tried one on a full range system.


Widget

I have THD univalve SET class A, self biasing amp thats 15 watts. This little thing will sound so clean that you'd swear a reverb pedal was hooked up but has enough gain to get nice crunch distortion. W a two 12 cab w Eminenance woofers, the setup will rock the house.

For home stereo would I use a SET for hip hop and metal, no but for jazz, classical and light rock you bet!! Tubes sound so damn sweet!!