Kevin Brown
1000+ Head-Fier
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- Oct 21, 2009
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I am still early in my learning curve on tube amps, but maybe something just sunk in.
There are 100% tube amps like the Darkvoice 336:
http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=55#
And then there are hybrids like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260673272843&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
OK, my understanding is that it takes some design effort to get a 100% tube amp to work well with low impedance headphones like Grados. That's why hybrids exist: because you can use a solid state output stage that is "easier" to deliver the high current that low impedance headphones demand. Is that right?
For something like the DV, the big honkin' box on top is the transformer, and transformers are expensive, so to really do an effective 100% tube amp requires a big (expensive) transformer?
But then how does OTL fit into that? Are OTL's better/worse at driving low impedance cans? (Output transformer-less.)
If this has been covered previously, please let me know. I don't normally visit the amp forum ... but I am trying to learn !!
Thanks.
[Added:] OK, found some other threads that talk some about this:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/482283/tube-amp-vs-solid-state-amp-vs-hybrid-amp
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/481847/solid-state-vs-tubes-which-one-s-and-why-plus-more
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/183739/what-is-a-hybrid-amp-raptor-rudistor
There are 100% tube amps like the Darkvoice 336:
http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=55#
And then there are hybrids like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260673272843&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
OK, my understanding is that it takes some design effort to get a 100% tube amp to work well with low impedance headphones like Grados. That's why hybrids exist: because you can use a solid state output stage that is "easier" to deliver the high current that low impedance headphones demand. Is that right?
For something like the DV, the big honkin' box on top is the transformer, and transformers are expensive, so to really do an effective 100% tube amp requires a big (expensive) transformer?
But then how does OTL fit into that? Are OTL's better/worse at driving low impedance cans? (Output transformer-less.)
If this has been covered previously, please let me know. I don't normally visit the amp forum ... but I am trying to learn !!
Thanks.
[Added:] OK, found some other threads that talk some about this:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/482283/tube-amp-vs-solid-state-amp-vs-hybrid-amp
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/481847/solid-state-vs-tubes-which-one-s-and-why-plus-more
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/183739/what-is-a-hybrid-amp-raptor-rudistor