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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
TG,

I see your point in that neither technology has a lock on all aspects of the "absolute" sound of live music.

But both technologies do tend to have some unique strengths and weaknesses in general that tend to distinguish them so I think it is a fair question how close can they sound.

The best answer I can come up with is they can sound "very close", in fact probably so close that most would not be able to tell the difference reliably in practice.

Then of course, they are also quite capable of sounding quite distinct in ways that can often be clearly correlated to the technology used.

The gear I tend to like seems to have some common good attributes of both. Some of it is tube based and some not. I care more about the results than how they are achieved, but I also tend to be tube shy in that the extra work and expense required over time to keep things properly tuned and working does not appeal to me although I think tubes are way cool in general and I love to watch them glow.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
Can we agree that it takes a 150 watt SS amp to duplicate a 75 watt tube amp?
timlub
2,039 posts
 
The closest transistor amp i've heard to immulate tube was a Son of Ampzilla 2000.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
"Can we agree that it takes a 150 watt SS amp to duplicate a 75 watt tube amp?"

In terms of listenable volume, often the case, but there are some soft clipping SS amps that might not fit this mold as much as most.

Also a 75 watt SS amp may be more likely to deliver more solid bass performance at moderate volume than a 75 watt tube amp with many speakers that are "difficult loads" and perform better in the bass normally with SS gear.
timlub
2,039 posts
 
Mrtennis, It seems that between all the lines that there are answers. You have been answered by a wealth of experience and knowledge. The general consensus is, you can certainly find solid states that have some tube character and some tubes that have solid state character.
The Carver challenge has been mentioned, but I've tried his so called T amplifiers... I don't know what they heard in the original test, but the manufactured pieces are not tube like. As far as the clipping issue. One amp that I own is a very nicely modified Sumo Nine. Doubled filter capacitance, double bridge rectifier capacity, hard wired 10 gauge power cable, replaced a multitude of caps with great parts and all resistors. My particular amp is 78 watts to 8 & 152 watts to 4. This amp is pure Class A and I must say, when it clips, it does so with as much grace as anything that I have heard, but I'm not saying its just like tubes.
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