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What are the advantages of tubes in a CD Player?

.....and are they better than solid state CD Players? I have had a few players. Rega Apollo, NAD 542, and a Cambridge Audio (actually a DVD Player). I loved the Apollo, but thought I wanted to go to a complete Computer Audio system so I sold it. Now I am contemplating buying another player. I hear the tube sound is so warm and non-digital sounding, which is why I bought the Apollo, well that and the look of it. So, should I go tubes this time? I was looking at that Raysonic 128 and the Shanling and maybe even the Consonance Droplet
restless_times
Post removed 
trelja
3,226 posts
 
Thanks for the insights, Grant!

And, I do agree most emphatically with you; I don't consider the 6H30 as nearly an attractive option than a tube you can roll - 12AX7, 12AU7, 6922, etc. Just about impossible for me to believe a Russian tube can compete with most of what was produced yesterday - or, even today.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Tubes are actually much more ideal for voltage amplification, such as small-signal in a DAC or CDP. Transistors are better at current amplification. The main disadvantage of tubes is the high-voltage and the high output impedance, along with the obvious wear-out factor. Fets can compete with tubes, except that they have temperature sensitivity. If you could keep them extremely cool always, FET's would be king I think.

The high-voltage for tubes must be dealt with using transformers or coupling capacitors. With the advent of the Sonicap Platinum and the V-cap Teflons it is possible to get excellent low-disortion results from good tubes, such as the 12AU7 6922 or cca's. When the power systems and capacitors are well-designed, you have the punch and extension that you get with transistor outputs combined with the smoothness, imaging and detail of good tubes.

Not all designs deliver this however. It's like asking if transistor amps are better than tube amps. Depends on the design and parts choices. There is more to design than just the circuit design and whether it uses tubes, transistors or FET's.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer
bartokfan
664 posts
 
I recall reading a post, i may have asked the quation, where he said he'd walk with the Cayin 17 and leave the Droplet. Just an opinion.
The Droplet 's disadvatage is as Tvad points out. The Cayin offers a quad of 6922's, which I replaced with RCA grey plates NOS. Nice.
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