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Tube Equipment: Gimmick?

I recently had a mechanical engineer (who has no interest in audio equipment or the industry) express amazement when I told him about the high prices of tube gear. His amazement, he said, stemmed from the fact that tubes are antiquated gear, incapable of separating signals the way (what we call "solid state") equipment can.

In essence, he said tubes could never be as accurate as SS gear, even at the height of the technology's maturity. This seems substantiated by the high-dollar tube gear I've heard - many of the things that many here love so much about the "tube sound" are wonderful - but to my ears, not true to the recording, being either too "bloomy" in the vocal range or too "saturated" throughout, if that makes any sense.

I have limited experience with tubes, so my questions are: what is the attraction of tubes, and when we talk about SS gear, do we hit a point where the equipment is so resolving that it makes listening to music no fun? Hmmm..or maybe being *too* accurate is the reason folks turn from SS to tubes?

Thanks in advance for the thoughts!
aggielaw
bigtee
803 posts
 
I use a tube preamp and it "Sounds" as accurate as any solid state preamp I have used. Of course, what is accurate?
I feel it has to be true to the source, BUT, how did the source really sound? This could go on and on.
I look for flat frequency response and fairly low distortion. If a tube preamp or amp will give you that, how can it be said it is not accurate?
Tube equipment done right gives music back its life, steep in harmonic richness and natural sounding foundation. It takes some pretty good solid state equipment to give you that.
Each has its colorations, so pick what you like and forget about it.
Personally, I like a tube pre with a solid state amp.
I do have one question though, what does a mechanical engineer know about electronics? I must have slept through that section of school!
ecclectique
509 posts
 
Your engineer friend, obviously has never heard a good system that employs vacuum tubes.Given the opportunity, I am certain he would be even more amazed at how a fine tube based system can consistently get you closer to the music.
steelhead
318 posts
 
Listen for yourself, then you decide.

I did and ended up with CJ.

My friend borrowed it to hook up with his Maggies and he ended up with Cary.

My electrical engineer friend has classic MOSCODE and a couple of SET's.

Go listen, compare, and come back and tell us what YOU think.

Happy Listening.
tinman
35 posts
 
Why would you listen to your ME friend? He probably is clueless how the electricity works from he statement and has very little understanding of electronics.

By the way, listen to the music not equipement which you will find the most joy from it. You need to pick equipments which sound best to you and not to your friends. Follow your heart.

Happy listening!! :-)
jiwitn
10 posts
 
Tubes are an absolute joke. I simply cannot believe anyone would be foolish enough to invest in inferior equipment. I have listened to both, and determined that solid state is the way to go. Also, I am not interested in replacing tubes every 18mos.
You guys should save your money and get into some Krell!
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