It's true, to a degree. There is something so old school laboratory 50's sci-fi
atomic age (and earlier) electronic about tubes. Ever look at the stuff
Jeffrey Jackson
does or those things using ancient radio tubes, or even 211's or..... They all
have a quality that brings back the ghost of radio stations, transmitting
facilities, guys in white lab coats with clip boards (no, not the asylum
attendants).
And, you can change the sound by swapping out tubes, sometimes to a
remarkable degree. I was comparing the sound of different rectifier tubes in
the last week.
And, they glow. And throw off heat.
Maybe Regismc was right after all. We are only in it for
.....
the gear. :)
But, there are a few drawbacks. Big, heavy, throws off heat, not the easiest
thing to work with on a number of speakers. Cost of tubes. Quality of tubes
(or lack thereof). Sources of tubes. Tube oscillation. Tube microphonics.
Tube life. And Tube death. Still love 'em.
Can't live without 'em. Maybe.
I go through the same issues with vinyl. Is this a good pressing?
Is it clean? Is it scratched, is it warped, is my cartridge properly aligned,
what about the VTA, should the cartridge be replaced, oh, the goddamn
airpump for the tone arm, is that mistracking I hear or just another noisy
new pressing?
But I haven't been able to give it up. Yet.
