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how close in sound can a tube and ss amp sound ?

i have observed threads requesting advice regarding tube sounding solid state amps, within a price point.

i wonder how to confirm such a request.

in addition to recommendations, what about comparing a particular ss amp to a particular tube amp using an experimental design where bias, or preconception has been eliminated ?

has anyone tested the hypothesis that he/she cannot detect the difference between a tube and a ss amp, within the same power range, price point and minimizing interaction problems, such as impedeance mismatches ?

on the other hand if someone is seeking a tube-like sound out of a solid state amp, i would assume that one would use a "classic" sounding tube amp, e.g., cj mv 45, cj 75, cj 100, or cj mv125 as the tube amp and try to find a ss amp that is indistinguishable from the sound of the classic tube amp.

i have found that many ss amps differ with respect to bass and treble response from many tube amps.

in my own case, i would love to find a 120 watt ss amp which sounds like my vtl tube amp. unfortunately, i am not optimistic.

in other threads, some people have stated that it is impossible to find a ss amp that is "tube-like", in the classic sense.
mrtennis
auxetophone
114 posts
 
It's not obvious why you're asking. If you're just wondering if it can be done, it has been - read about the Carver challenge. If you have something more practical in mind, what is it exactly?

It's rare in my experience to hear ANY two amps that sound identical, regardless of technology.
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atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
So far the closest I have heard a transistor amp to sound like a tube amp is one that sounded so neutral that it would be best to say it sounded like music the way a good tube amp sounds like music, without much in the way of artifact.

That amp is the Ridley Audio amplifier.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
Just picked up a pair of TAD 125 Hibachi amps for my second system and am giving these a whirl. These seem to fit the bill as an attempt to emulate tube sound with a SS amp.

Too early to draw firm conclusions but I will say so far that these do have some similarities to "tube amp sound" that I have heard, probably more so than typical SS amps, and am thinking the comparison is a fair one.

We'll see....
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
It is a moot point if neither can be perceived as the "absolute sound", in other words live music. Isn't that the objective? No, not to everyone I'm sure.

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