AMPLIFIED MUSIC: AM I LIMITED TO SOLID S


I DON'T LISTEN TO CLASSICAL OR ACOUSTICAL MUSIC. I LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT IS AMPLIFIED RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS IT IS BEING RECORDED. I LISTEN TO ELECTRIC BLUES/R&B/FUNK/SOUL. MOST OF THE REVIEWERS IN THE HIGH BROW MAGS LIKE TAS AND STEREOPHILE BASE THEIR REVIEWS ON CLASSICAL/ACOUSTIC MUSIC. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME? IT SEEMS THESE REVIEWERS INVAIRIBLY UTILIZE TUBES/VINYL/ANALOG EQUIPMENT. GIVEN MY AFOREMENTIONED TASTE IN MUSIC, SHOULD I EVEN BOTHER WITH TUBES/DACs/ ETC?
markman
If I, Dekay or Glen came across as "pompous", please excuse us. We have been hit by a recent onslaught of "ALL CAPS" posters. It is both irritating and harder to follow. I hope that you accept the appology that i offer on all of our behalf. Unfortunatly, you were the one that was "unloaded" on. Hopefully, we can get this thread back "on target" : )

A TRULY musical system is one that sounds good on ANY type of music. As such, you will find proponents for both SS and Tube based products on this and other forums. As Herman pointed out, both genres have their high and low points and TYPICALLY offer specific sonic attributes. There are products that DO cross over the "sonic dividing line" though that seems to exist between SS and tube based products. Either way, most of audio is VERY personal. You pretty much have to listen for yourself AND try different things to see exactly what is most compatible with the other components in your system.

Given that "generic disclaimer", i see no problem with either SS or tube based gear working for you. As to your comments about tubes being more "hi-fi" and "elite", that is not necessarily so. Nor is SS gear relegated to the basement. Both have their places and it is up to you to find what suits YOUR tastes the best. Sean
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Thanks Sean. I did mean well, but could not control myself. In all honesty, listen to everything that you can before laying down your hard earned income. As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and hopefully you will stumble across something that attracts you. If the forums make it less of a tumble then so much for the better. My advice, if you are new to this passion is, listen hard, listen relaxed and listend long. Best regards, David.
A good amplifier should be able to accurately reproduce both a Steinway grand and a Les Paul driving a Marshall stack. The magazines tend to use acoustic instruments recorded with "purist" techniques because with these recordings more is known about the sound. A well schooled reviewer should know what any number of major orchestras sound like in a variety of halls. They can use this knowledge to compare the truthfulness of a component's reproduction of music. A typical electric guitar recording has so many variables that it's virtually impossible, unless you were in the studio during the recording session, to use it as a reference for accurate music reproduction.

Based upon your stated musical tastes, you should shade your system toward components that excel at rhythm and timing. Your amp/speakers should be able to produce tones down to 40Hz with authority. Tonal accuracy, low distortion and clarity are also required. It really doesn't make any difference whether the components that provide these qualities are tube designs, or not. Enjoy your music.
I fear that people are losing there sense of humor here. I got a -4 on my post. I happen to think the delivery wasen't half bad. Unless someone totally objected to my choice of speakers I only deserved a -3.

Mr\Mrs Markman I apologize if I have offended you in anyway. You have to understand that some of the guys here joke around a bit. It was not meant to be insulting or demeaning in any way. Just having some fun:~)

PS- If you turn the music down. Maybe you won't have to write so loud:~)
Glen: It must have been someone who worships both Reader's Digest and Consumer Reports as Bose is almost at the top of the list in the recent CR issue (along with quite a few bad beers). Wish they would have stuck to what they are knowlegable about.