2. amps-preamps
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solid state vs tubes

has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?

the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.

this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.

if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.

why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
mrtennis
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,842 posts
 
I think Atmasphere's assertion regarding higher ohm speakers is one of those things that is probably accurate in a technical sense but in practice does not always determine what will sound best to an individual.

Still, I do think there is something to it and would love to do the test if there were a way to do it cost effectively and with no risk up front in case it does not pan out for me.
unsound
7,353 posts
 
Mapman, I suspect that in narrow technical terms there might be something to it, but I wonder if it would hold up in broader technical terms. More importantly, I agree with you, that in practice it might not matter.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,842 posts
 
Unsound,

I think speakers are generally voiced to sound a particular way with certain kinds of amps and vice versa. I suspect tweaking the impedance load in any given case would change the sound and present a better opportunity for the right amp to now deliver better sound. I doubt that in practice though this would always necessarily be the end result. Its all about amp/speaker synergy which can be achieved via many combos, warts and all. Providing a technically better playing field as a higher impedance likely does does not necessarily assure better results.
unsound
7,353 posts
 
Mapman, I am not convinced that a higher impedance is a technically better playing field. In fact I believe the opposite to be true.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,842 posts
 
Maybe.

In general, I believe higher ratios of input impedance on a device downstream to output impedance of the device upstream to always be a good thing, all other things aside.

Of course, in reality you can't just conveniently focus on on e factor and push all others aside, so who knows in any particular case. No one ingredient alone makes for good soup.
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