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Solid State vs. Tubes - What if Transistors came first?

What do you guys think?

If transistors came first, and then decades later tubes were invented, would we have any tube amps we would call high end?

Wouldn’t they all fail to reach the height of performance and transparency set by transistor amps?

Best,

E

P.S. I love Conrad Johnson. I'm just wondering how  much of our arguments have to do with timing. 
erik_squires
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
“Solid state is more convenient.”

Out if the mouths of babes....

So, gentle readers, it all comes down to precisely the same reason why most people prefer digital. Convenience. Why didn’t he just come right out and say it and spare us all the philosophizing?
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Yes, I think loudness is a reflection of wanting to hear the dynamics and inherent dynamic expression that exists in “live” events!  That is what tells our ear/brain that we are in the presence of a live event...walking past a bar with a live act, right?  You know when it’s live...the dynamic range gives it away.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
No offense intended to anyone living or dead but loudness is not the same thing as dynamic range. People! One way to avoid poor dynamic range is don’t listen to CDs. Oh, did I just say that?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
geoffkait,

I did come out and mentioned it many times, but you never read past "My understanding is..." so you did not drink from this well of wisdom I have been selflessly opening for you.


Now, just so you do not say I have not told you, appearance of the equipment does play a big role to many potential buyers.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Of course not Geoffkait, your missing the context and intent of my statement silly.  I was referencing the common reaction we all have to live music...it’s easily identifiable!  At home, I can understand how someone would try and get a bit of that same feeling at home by hitting the loudness button.
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