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Tubes vs Transistors: An Audible Difference?

Posted by michael on from the vi-emacs-vi-emacs-tastes-great-less-filling dept.

cgenman writes "Are those vaccuum tubes worth the extra price? This paper, a transcript of a speech to the Audio Engineering Society of New York, indicates so, though the reason is surprising: Overloaded tubes behave better. While the speech itself is from the early 70's, the paper takes on new importance with the recent trend in louder is better music."

1 of 686 comments (clear)

  1. Tube Amps are better by jackb_guppy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Tubes are better in giving a "warmer" sound.

    Silcon is too much of a light switch. There is human ear ramping of sound, it is there, it is not.

    Tubes on the otherhand, help smooth the sound because of amount of electrons needed "jump the gap".

    Besides for REAL power, there is ONLY tubes. Look are the linear accelator at Sanford, RADAR, Radio, and TV to name quite a few of real power switching.