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
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
my original question has not been answered:

has anyone participated in a "blind" test comparing a solid state amp to a tube amp and been unable to discern the difference between them , say 7 out of 10 times ?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,093 posts
 
MrT:

That was not your original question.

Which is it?
unsound
7,327 posts
 
Mapman, One of the advantages of ss amplification is it's inherently low output impedance, low speaker impedance speaker loads are almost never a concern. There are some, that believe that the best results occur when impedance's are more closely matched (Jeff Roland?) rather than having a low to high ratio. I suspect it might have more to do with application. It appears to me that it is much easier to achieve better bass response and steadier impedance loads in lower impedance speakers than in higher impedance speakers.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
I have had many tube and solid state components , I've slowly gone all S.S. . The last 3 to 4 years tube and solid state has nearly reached convergance , at least in the higher end . The break down rate on the tubes was only slightly higher retubing for my preamp was $ 550. per year , my power amp $2200. per year , the odd time you would get a bad tube and have to start over . Go over your recommended tube life and things would start to go very wrong , so I was listing less to save tube life , also the heat from the tubes in the summer meant reduced listing time . I loved my tubes , but I have found S.S. gear thats equally as injoyable , although somewhat more pricy up front . M
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,093 posts
 
"The break down rate on the tubes was only slightly higher retubing for my preamp was $ 550. per year , my power amp $2200. per year"

Wow, that's scary.

The tubes in my ARC sp16 are coming up on 2 years with a lot of play. I have had minor noise issues that I have alleviated by shuffling existing tubes, but I think the time is coming to replace all. From ARC, the cost of doing that is about $30 a tube or $180 dollars total for 6 12AX7s.

I really like the ARC but if I were shelling out hundreds a year just to retain the good sound, it would probably be out the door and back to all SS for me.
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