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Solid states more accurate than tubes?

Ever since I changed speakers from a pair of Maggie's to Proac's, I find the tonal balance more accurate with a ss, especially acoustic wood instruments. Tubes seem to lack that tonal accuracy. I believe it's a more realistic and accurate rendering. Is that a fair assessment? I'm not arguing tubes don't sound good with it's rich, warm sound but just not as accurate. 
jaferd
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,793 posts
 
but then those easy to drive/efficient speakers themselves are not the most accurate things to listen to.
This is highly debatable! Many of the Wilson speakers made in the last 20 years are very easy to drive. An easy load to drive has a serious advantage- less thermal compression. A horn can be properly designed so that it has smooth response, and has controlled directivity so that early reflections from side walls won't cause harshness. The idea that only hard to drive speakers can be accurate is a topic for another thread, but also obviously false.
tweak1
3,655 posts
 
Ralph, did you ever listen to Emerald Physics carbon fiber series with your amps?  I imagine it would be glorious
bassdude
493 posts
 
Ralph,

What are some of the speakers that sound especially accurate and good with Atma-sphere OTL amps?  Some examples would be helpful to illustrate you're point.

I recall the sound of the AudioKinesis Jazz Modules with your S-30 amp - which sounded very accurate (don't know if it was, or not - but, it sounded like it).  

On the other hand... I think Harbeth's sound much better and more accurate with selected SS amps, which is one of the reasons why Harbeth uses amps like Hegels at shows.  

I have no idea what the engineering principals are that determine such "synergy" between the amp and speakers - but, it is "magical" when you find that combination.
papafrgog
102 posts
 

Personally, I prefer tube sound over the SS gear I have listened to. But I have listened exhaustively to SS gear. I have all Aesthetix Eclipse models -Atlas, Janus, Romulus playing through new Raidho TD3.8s.  I've rolled low-noise NOS tubes (Tele & Amperex) to get the sound that I love. 

My only thought about using SS would be as separate phono pre, bypassing my Janus phono stage to lower the noise flow and to eliminate a low-level tube rush. I demo'd a new version Krell phono pre and really liked it.  Maybe the quietness of SS made me perceive the unit as presenting more accurate/detailed information.  

So as a follow-on question, which component benefits more from SS over tubes, or vice versa? 

  

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,011 posts
 
Berning ZOTL amplifier apparently contradict that widely held, not always true tough, opinions about distorted sound tubes.....

I never listen to a ZOTL.... I only dream to buy one....

My post is only an invitation to read about an interesting new technology....

By the way i hate short life duration tubes with a slow degradation at a certain point in times, especially when they are very good sound, and i hate more the heating furnace of tubes amplifier....Nothing of that with the ZOTL technology tough.... Then.... I dream to have the best of the 2 worlds without their defects........

Berning is a physicist by the way.....He recreate tube tech from the beginning....And the price is not so high even for me someday....

I apologize to mimicking a marketing publicity.... But i dream a lot....And  has read a lot about that....
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