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solid state vs tubes

has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?

the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.

this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.

if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.

why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
mrtennis
blindjim
3,092 posts
 

My short answer is No. I’ve not heard a tube amp that sounds like an SS amp in particular, nor the other way ‘round. I’ve only heard some of each amps attributes correlate to either amp despite their obvious topologies being vastly different..

I see no reason at all to buy a tube amp which sounds like a SS amp. In fact I’ve not heard either one duplicate the other. I have heard tube amps which tend to sound more SS’y than they do tubey. Ie., CJ and Cary of recent vintages… >2005.

The closer one gets to SET topology, the greater the distance between tube and SS amps becomes.

My Ultralinear configured mono blocks can be made to have a good deal of SS attributes…. OR they can be made to sound quite tube-ish… via rolling tubes, & pcs.

I‘ve not been able to make the reverse applicable…. Altering SS to sound like a Tube amp… nor do I care to find out how or even if that is possible.

Each topology serves it’s own end.

Only when or if I were to incorporate tubes into say a HT arrangement, and to lessen the disparity between those two designs, would I tend to look for more SS like tube amps… and even then I might not be so inclined to pursue that theme in those confines.
jburidan
803 posts
 
No such thing...
markwatkiss
508 posts
 
I erected sails on my power boat.Still able to tell it was a power boat.I also added food colour to my white wine so it would have the appearance of red wine.Still tasted like white wine to me.I've never been able to understand why people try to make things into something they can't possibly be.Laws of physics apply here.Musicnoise and Blinjim have it right.
ryder
1,689 posts
 
If your question is to distinguish a solid state amp from another solid state amp then you may be able to obtain an answer from the Harbeth designer Alan Shaw. He believes all amplifiers sound the same. Go figure.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I feel my roland model 6 amps come very close to the sound of my audiovalve challanger 180 monoblocks when driving usher rw729's or soundlab m2's but the tube amps have the edge in my opinion driving my speakers.
Where do you stand on your own question I am just wondering.
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