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Why is solid state more popular when tubes are better?

Yes tubes are more involved and require periodic maintenance. Hybrid tube components need not apply, these are really solid state.

Tubes are better for multiple reasons and yet the world and the trade prefers solid state. Those rare audio shops that are geared toward stereo listening and serious connoisseurs tend to Focus more on tubes.  Those in business who like to improve volumes tend to offer solid state.  All the YouTube channels looking to improve their business tend to be solid state.  Maybe because tubes require much more expertise to sell, and there's lesser and lesser to go around. Solid state is more of a fast food commodity.

Tubes are difficult for businesses due to all the maintenance and complexity so you see it less often. Much much easier to sell hybrids or solid state.

 

 

emergingsoul
wolf_garcia
6,711 posts
 

Many reference systems use tubes, and my personal reference system uses both tubes and transistors to produce music that to my ears is more realistic than otherwise, and my house is filled with musical instruments for "reference." There simply is no "net" better or worse based on what somebody can afford...serious pricey horn systems are generally powered by pricey tube amps. 

asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,706 posts
 

@wolf_garcia :

..serious pricey horn systems are generally powered by pricey tube amps. 

Good point and observation....👍

I've a pair of vintage Utah horns with their matching woofers that are driven with an ss amp and would agree they'd 'prefer' to be driven with a tube amp....and likely, the pre as well.

I snatched them up for being in flawless but dusty shape in trashed cabs for reference' sake.  In the era they were made, tubes were what they'd get attached to, and would perform best with.

Vague plans to treat them to a 'proper' amp at some point....

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,724 posts
 

You might find this article interesting!

https://medium.com/collectors-weekly/could-an-old-school-tube-amp-make-the-music-you-love-sound-better-a35574739c45

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
779 posts
 

@emergingsoul,

 

As Wolf Garcia has said, there are many "reference" systems using tube amplifiers of all kinds - otherwise companies like Jadis, VTL and Audio Research (now rescued) would not exist.

The term "reference system" is a bit meaningless. However, to the extent that is is taken to mean systems aspiring to emulate the dynamic range and frequency response of live music, the challenge in using tubes for non horn-based systems of this type is the sheer amount of tubes and associated circuitry needed to generate high power output.

dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 

As atmasphere noted above, tubes produce harmonics (distortion) that most solid state gear does not. That distortion is pleasing to many, but not to all. It can also be overdone. I have a tube preamp (Cary SLP-05) and a solid state amp (Levinson 432). I like the "tubiness" of the Cary, but if I pair that with a tube amp the "tubiness" gets to be too much.  In addition, my speakers are not very efficient and have a significant phase angle issue at low frequencies and I find they are better driven by a big SS amp. Also, I do not listen to much rock music, and, quite frankly, my system is not as good with that type of music as it is with jazz, folk, vocal, classical etc.   My point - there is no right or wrong. It depends on the specific equipment, the type of music and personal tastes. And, as others have mentioned, tube rolling and tube adjustments, esp. in power amps, are not for everyone. It's nice to have options to tune the sound to your own particular tastes.

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