Tube Amp Question

The problem is that tube amps usually have a much higher output impedance than SS amps, and because of this, unwanted levels of distortion can arise when used with low impedance phones. While (I don't believe) Schiit doesn't release the output imepdances for their amps, I would guess this is why they recommended the SS Asgard over the Valhalla.

You can drive low impedance cans with tube amps with output transformers, such a the Woo 6.  The output transformers lower output impedance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arion 

 

Thanks for answering, so do you think I should just stick with an ss amp. I was looking at the Asgard but it apparently sound dull and lifeless and also the amp is said to be slow which won't be good for electronic music which is what I listen to. That's why I started looking at tube amps. I just may have thought the Valhalla would be okay since the little dot says it works with all headphones.

What do you think?

 

Well, I haven't had experience with the Asgard personally but I feel you're placing far too much value in how the amp will affect your sound. It could sound dull and lifeless if low/high frequencies are being heavily rolled off, I don't have enough knowledge about this model to say specifically. As for being "slow", that's a strange term to give an amp as the headphone driver would seem to be FAR FAR more influential in hearing an energetic, fast sound versus a lush, slow sound. However, due to the distortion induced by tube amps, they tend to err more towards the second case. In your case I probably would not even consider a tube amp.

No disrespect, but this is one of the unfortunate misconceptions carried on about tube amps.  The sound of a tube amp all comes down to the topology and the tubes in the circuit.  Some tube amps can sound faster, more accurate, more clinical, and more clear than solid state amps.  Likewise, some tube amps are very syrupy, but tube amps can be very clear and true to the source material.  It all depends.  But, tube does not always mean rolled off and distorted.  For example, the Valhalla is said to be a very clear and sparkly amp.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman23 


However, due to the distortion induced by tube amps, they tend to err more towards the second case. In your case I probably would not even consider a tube amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hodgjy 

No disrespect, but this is one of the unfortunate misconceptions carried on about tube amps.  The sound of a tube amp all comes down to the topology and the tubes in the circuit.  Some tube amps can sound faster, more accurate, more clinical, and more clear than solid state amps.  Likewise, some tube amps are very syrupy, but tube amps can be very clear and true to the source material.  It all depends.  But, tube does not always mean rolled off and distorted.  For example, the Valhalla is said to be a very clear and sparkly amp.
 

 

It's not a misconception, it's a scientific fact. Tubes cannot reach the low levels of distortion that a properly implemented ss amp can, as such, more tend to fall in that category, like I said (but probably more likely due to intended coloration/distortion). Likewise, a properly implemented tube amp can reach low enough levels of distortion to where any differences would be inaudible. Any coloration beyond this is either intended for its harmonic qualities or because of a design shortcoming. I never said ALL tube amps would sound a certain way, nor that ALL ss amps would sound a certain way either.

I will agree with about 99% of this except for your statement about scientific fact of distortion.  It is another misconception that solid state amps have lower distortion than tube amps.  Ever listened to a class D amp?  Those things have very high THD when pushed.  While it is true that a nicely designed solid state *should* have lower distortion that a nicely designed tube amp, many of today's solid state amps may have more distortion than the nice tube amps.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman23 

It's not a misconception, it's a scientific fact. Tubes cannot reach the low levels of distortion that a properly implemented ss amp can, as such, more tend to fall in that category, like I said (but probably more likely due to intended coloration/distortion). Likewise, a properly implemented tube amp can reach low enough levels of distortion to where any differences would be inaudible. Any coloration beyond this is either intended for its harmonic qualities or because of a design shortcoming. I never said ALL tube amps would sound a certain way, nor that ALL ss amps would sound a certain way either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hodgjy 

I will agree with about 99% of this except for your statement about scientific fact of distortion.  It is another misconception that solid state amps have lower distortion than tube amps.  Ever listened to a class D amp?  Those things have very high THD when pushed.  While it is true that a nicely designed solid state *should* have lower distortion that a nicely designed tube amp, many of today's solid state amps may have more distortion than the nice tube amps.
 

 

Of course, that's why I said properly implemented ;)

Cheers, my friend
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman23 

Of course, that's why I said properly implemented ;)