Are Tube Amps better than Solid State Amps? - Page 2

Even if not overdriven, you get the swirling fluid sound with tubes. Yes Hendrix like tubes and knew which ones he wants to overdrive. The RCA black plate 5751 was a favorite.

 

Tubes done right, which often is not done, can sound and do anything you want. The heart of a tube amp is the transformer. Give me good/great iron, and anything can be done.

I don't like tube amps. You have to roll the tubes. Tubes are expensive specially the old ones. They can hum. They get hot. Tubes fail.

You don't have to roll anything if you know your tubes. That all does take a lot of reading or experience, of which I have done both. Tube amps are only as good or bad as they are made and who is using them.

To answer the original question:  No, but it depends.

 

Transistors were made to overcome the shortcomings of tube amplifiers. Hence, from a technical point of view, and depending on whether you agree on what constitutes an improvement in technology, Transistors are better, so they're used in almost all types of amplifiers today.

 

Since the use of amplifiers is varied, and music amplifiers belongs to the hobby/recreational category, the definitions of what's good and whats not are varied. 

 

In that respect, it depends on what you think defines a good amplifier. For example, a tube amp may be bad for a phone signal amplifier.

 

They smell as well :)

 

Only joking!

 

These days I do really go first to solid state amps and I believe that the very best amplification can be solid state, however the very best amplification could also be with valves ("tubes" in US) or, of course, hybrid.

 

I have been told the Chinese have a saying: "It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice".

 

Actually I like vacuum tube amps, I have 3 of them.

 

I should have realised you post was tongue-in-cheek :)

 

Lol. Tubes or valves are easy to criticize yet the best amps for the Stax have tubes, tubes cool the HD-800 highs, etc... Tubes don't get respect.

That depends on what you mean by "best amplification" of course. 

 

 

 If it measures good and sounds bad, it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, you've measured the wrong thing. - Daniel R. von Recklinghausen

I like both SS and tube amps.

 

The problem with tube amps is tube addiction.

My first "tube" was an EF5....
It made magic with my HE5 n hd800 none of my solid state amps could, then.
Had to roll in my first tube cos the stock tube died..
nah I wasn't addicted... Just a little high.
The tube path is part of the road we must walk in headfi.

Now...which balanced tube amp to snag...tats the headache.

What tube addiction? None to be had, oh, okay, I have around 3500 in storage, but hey, you need that many, right? right?

Admission is part of the cure!