I unlike most have used a tube amplifier only, and have not heard my front stage on anything else. I use the U.S.Amps 4360.
I have been told I should try a non tube amp as I listen to alot of Hiphop and rock, and the tube amps are more meant for other types of music.
I was also told the tube amps are not meant to be played extremley loud, which I like to do most of the time.
Is this all true? If so would I be happier without a tube amplifier?
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Tube Amplifier Or Not?
Tube amps actually handle overload (clipping, saturation) more gracefully than solid state amplifiers. They exhibit even order harmonics while in overload, providing a "warmer" sound when overdriven and that is generally more pleasing than the odd order distortion that solid state amplifiers produce when overdriving. Tubes will generally last longer when pushed that hard as well.
That said, I'm one that feels tube amps don't have much of a place in the modern audio world. It isn't that they're inherently bad, it's simply because an equivalently built solid state amplifier will outperform it, be more reliable, and require less maintenance. No worries about performance degradation, rebiasing, or tube replacements. Things set equal you won't hear a difference one way or another unless you're consistently driving your amps into clipping.
I'd stick with what you have if you're considering solid state only for their sound. If your existing amplifier puts out the power you want and performs to your liking, there is no reason to convert one way or another.
That said, I'm one that feels tube amps don't have much of a place in the modern audio world. It isn't that they're inherently bad, it's simply because an equivalently built solid state amplifier will outperform it, be more reliable, and require less maintenance. No worries about performance degradation, rebiasing, or tube replacements. Things set equal you won't hear a difference one way or another unless you're consistently driving your amps into clipping.
I'd stick with what you have if you're considering solid state only for their sound. If your existing amplifier puts out the power you want and performs to your liking, there is no reason to convert one way or another.
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William from NOLA
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A tube amp creates a "warm" type of distortion through even ordered harmonics that sound good to our ears. It is really just a different sound from solid state amplifiers that is considered good by most people and often desirable.
Tube amps being meant for other types of music is complete and unsubstantiated bs. Many of the preamps used with a microphone recording a singer have tubes in them.
However, playing a tube amp loudly may shorten the life of the tube (more heat). I'm not 100% on that though, I don't know a whole lot about tube amps, but I do know that tubes can be replaced.
If you want, try to borrow an amp from a friend to try on your speakers. Couldn't hurt.
**Edit: dang, Jonathan beat me to it.
Tube amps being meant for other types of music is complete and unsubstantiated bs. Many of the preamps used with a microphone recording a singer have tubes in them.
However, playing a tube amp loudly may shorten the life of the tube (more heat). I'm not 100% on that though, I don't know a whole lot about tube amps, but I do know that tubes can be replaced.
If you want, try to borrow an amp from a friend to try on your speakers. Couldn't hurt.
**Edit: dang, Jonathan beat me to it.
A.K.A. megahurts4 :: Member since: July 19, 2002 