kelly
Herr Babelfish der Übersetzer, he wore a whipped-cream-covered tutu for this title.
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Quote:
Bootman posted this in another thread and I think it's worthy of a good (friendly) debate--but didn't want to crap that excellent thread. I really hope people on both sides of this issue will add to the thread.
I feel that this is one of the biggest myths on HeadFi. This topic has come up in various threads here and there so some of this is repeated information (sorry) but here's my basic view on the difference between solid state and dynamic headphone amps.
Solid state and tube equipment both have distortions. These distortions measure differently and people argue about which kind of distortions matter more and cause the most degradation. Since I'm not so smart or researched, I leave that to those of you who are. My opinions are based on subjective listening only.
In low cost amps, solid state amps have a tendency to sound harsh and thin--lacking weight and roundness and often adding a hazy shadow above the music. This is a stereotype--it does not apply to all solid state amps and the stereotype becomes less true with more expensive amps.
In low cost amps, tube amps have a tendency to sound murky, clouded and thick--lacking texture/airiness and sounding muddled. This is a stereotype--it does not apply to all solid state amps and the stereotype becomes less true with more expensive amps.
I have heard solid state amps that sounded more thick and murky than similar priced tube amps. I have heard tube amps that sounded more harsh and thin than similarly priced solid state amps. For these reasons, I will do my best to ignore the stereotypes and move on to judging the amplifiers in an indifividual case by case.
bootman said: It is really surprising how much of us like "color" in the sound. (I'm one of them, all tube fans are even if they don't know it yet.) |
Bootman posted this in another thread and I think it's worthy of a good (friendly) debate--but didn't want to crap that excellent thread. I really hope people on both sides of this issue will add to the thread.
I feel that this is one of the biggest myths on HeadFi. This topic has come up in various threads here and there so some of this is repeated information (sorry) but here's my basic view on the difference between solid state and dynamic headphone amps.
Solid state and tube equipment both have distortions. These distortions measure differently and people argue about which kind of distortions matter more and cause the most degradation. Since I'm not so smart or researched, I leave that to those of you who are. My opinions are based on subjective listening only.
In low cost amps, solid state amps have a tendency to sound harsh and thin--lacking weight and roundness and often adding a hazy shadow above the music. This is a stereotype--it does not apply to all solid state amps and the stereotype becomes less true with more expensive amps.
In low cost amps, tube amps have a tendency to sound murky, clouded and thick--lacking texture/airiness and sounding muddled. This is a stereotype--it does not apply to all solid state amps and the stereotype becomes less true with more expensive amps.
I have heard solid state amps that sounded more thick and murky than similar priced tube amps. I have heard tube amps that sounded more harsh and thin than similarly priced solid state amps. For these reasons, I will do my best to ignore the stereotypes and move on to judging the amplifiers in an indifividual case by case.