Do tube amps really sound better than solid state?

[Magus]

I can't believe this debate has not been settled yet... Tube is the way to go for performance. Solid state dor practice.

[Nelson de Leon]

Para natapos ang debate, blind A/B test na lang.

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[reid111]

iba tunog ng de tubo haha napatunayan q na to sa experience ko

[Master At Arms]

Tube amps > Solid State

Kemper and AX FX 2 closing the gap though.

My .02 centavos

[marcus_gloom]

In my experience, with same speaker size. Lamang ang tube. May something siya na extra, di ko masabi kung ano eh, pero iba talaga, lalo na pag may drive pedals na.   

[emil_murillo]

Myth or truth? Can you tell the difference if it will be heard during a blind test?

Hi guys! forgive me po i would like to answer lang po the very title.. so please excuse me po!..

¶  Do tube amps really sound better than solid state?

☼ Answer ►Yes po! → generally po tube outputs are class A → analog → high fidelity.. although a lot solid states you can find now a days are hi-fi na rin.. But the difference from an analog/class A/hi-fi tube is that they are using high voltage (more or less 400V).. so the primary effect of using high voltages are having this characteristics called → "natural compression"..  Then again, a lot of solid state amplifiers out there that can handle 700V, more than a power tube can handle.. ►► So what makes vacuum tubes better than solid states even though solid states can handle greater than 400V-500V???.. I don't want to bleed our nose too much now so i must speak in a very plain and simple words as i can po.. Here goes ►►► tungsten filament works @2200ºC-2700ºC while an oxide-coated filament works @1000ºC while a high voltage solid state works @-65ºC-150 ºC.. that's why we need to make vauum tubes takes sufficient heat to sound better.. while, solid states degrades in a constant and hotter operation..

Those were just sound factor of course.. solid states are more electrical efficient than vacuum tubes and more steady electrical characteristics.. so sound quality does not change pretty much over time, unlike vacuum tube of course which you have to have spares to replace it especially when sounds diminished.. Hence, snap-on packaging → for easy replacement..

your partner in passion!
-Emil

[Nelson de Leon]

Hi guys! forgive me po i would like to answer lang po the very title.. so please excuse me po!..

¶  Do tube amps really sound better than solid state?

☼ Answer ►Yes po! → generally po tube outputs are class A → analog → high fidelity.. although a lot solid states you can find now a days are hi-fi na rin.. But the difference from an analog/class A/hi-fi tube is that they are using high voltage (more or less 400V).. so the primary effect of using high voltages are having this characteristics called → "natural compression"..  Then again, a lot of solid state amplifiers out there that can handle 700V, more than a power tube can handle.. ►► So what makes vacuum tubes better than solid states even though solid states can handle greater than 400V-500V???.. I don't want to bleed our nose too much now so i must speak in a very plain and simple words as i can po.. Here goes ►►► tungsten filament works @2200ºC-2700ºC while an oxide-coated filament works @1000ºC while a high voltage solid state works @-65ºC-150 ºC.. that's why we need to make vauum tubes takes sufficient heat to sound better.. while, solid states degrades in a constant and hotter operation..

Those were just sound factor of course.. solid states are more electrical efficient than vacuum tubes and more steady electrical characteristics.. so sound quality does not change pretty much over time, unlike vacuum tube of course which you have to have spares to replace it especially when sounds diminished.. Hence, snap-on packaging → for easy replacement..

your partner in passion!
-Emil

Bale sir you mean kapag masmainit, masmaganda sound quality?

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[emil_murillo]

Bale sir you mean kapag masmainit, masmaganda sound quality?

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Yup! kase that's the general rule sa tube amps.. kailangan painitin (heater) pa ang vacuum tubes.. kasi mas maganda tunog nila kapag mainit keysa malamig pa or baka may noise pa yun kapag malamig pa.. Hence, kaya may heater sila at kailangan naka-standby muna sila para kahit hindi naka-ON ang amplifier eh buhay ang heaters ng tubes at para painitin muna sila kaya kailangan naka-standby muna sila ng ilang minutes..

[alvinratsim]

E di wow

[kawal]

i own both. tube sounds better. big rock concerts use tube. they are more expensive too. no brainer.

[Magus]

Hi guys! forgive me po i would like to answer lang po the very title.. so please excuse me po!..

¶  Do tube amps really sound better than solid state?

☼ Answer ►Yes po! → generally po tube outputs are class A → analog → high fidelity.. although a lot solid states you can find now a days are hi-fi na rin.. But the difference from an analog/class A/hi-fi tube is that they are using high voltage (more or less 400V).. so the primary effect of using high voltages are having this characteristics called → "natural compression"..  Then again, a lot of solid state amplifiers out there that can handle 700V, more than a power tube can handle.. ►► So what makes vacuum tubes better than solid states even though solid states can handle greater than 400V-500V???.. I don't want to bleed our nose too much now so i must speak in a very plain and simple words as i can po.. Here goes ►►► tungsten filament works @2200ºC-2700ºC while an oxide-coated filament works @1000ºC while a high voltage solid state works @-65ºC-150 ºC.. that's why we need to make vauum tubes takes sufficient heat to sound better.. while, solid states degrades in a constant and hotter operation..

Those were just sound factor of course.. solid states are more electrical efficient than vacuum tubes and more steady electrical characteristics.. so sound quality does not change pretty much over time, unlike vacuum tube of course which you have to have spares to replace it especially when sounds diminished.. Hence, snap-on packaging → for easy replacement..

your partner in passion!
-Emil

Yes the difference can be heard. Subukan nyo kasi.

Tube talaga the best.

Pero sa jamming jamming, praktisan.

Mag solidstate ka na 100 - 150 watts.

Para may sipa pa din.

I recently found an amp.

Solidstate pero parang Mark V kung sumipa.

[shoegaze geezer]

Yes the difference can be heard. Subukan nyo kasi.

Tube talaga the best.

Pero sa jamming jamming, praktisan.

Mag solidstate ka na 100 - 150 watts.

Para may sipa pa din.

I recently found an amp.

Solidstate pero parang Mark V kung sumipa.

what particular amp is that sir? i'm curious.

[titser_marco]

Again, most solid state amps and modelers can get really close to the recorded tone of a tube amp. The most important difference I think lies in the feel, and it may be because of the fact that most solid state designs employ a lot of negative feedback, something that tends to make an amp feel stiff - tube based or otherwise.


A good resource is this article by Peavey and how he came up with the concept around Transtube technology. It doesn't explain everything that makes a tube amp feel different from a solid state amp, but his reasoning is quite clear is very illuminating on the subject.

Find it here: http://peavey.com/monitor/pvpapers/Chapter3.pdf

[KennyKen]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

[r_chino18]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

How come?

[officebiker]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

What if you have a tube amp but your band sucks, your musical preference sucks and you have terrible acne?

[Nelson de Leon]

Paano kung madaming pera yun bibili?

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[ubersam]

What if you have a tube amp but your band sucks, your musical preference sucks and you have terrible acne?

Toanz is in the ACNE!

[royc]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

Touch sensitive na ba ang mga amp sims ngayon?

[firemodel55]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

Today, there are great sounding tube amps at bedroom level.  A lot of tube amps I own sound great on their own without being cranked. 
I still believe that driving two 12 inchers even at low volumes beats the amount of wire around a set of computer speakers or headphones.  Still more punch and fidelity along with a paper cone that pushes the air.
The argument can be made that all you have to do is connect your pc's line out into a tube amp's power section driving a guitar speaker... however you lose the expressiveness of the tube guitar amp's preamp with a digital preamp.

With great sounding tube amps, its like driving a Ferrari at 1 and driving a spaceship when cranked at 10.   

[jajacabel]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

[tongski_02]

"rule of thumb if you own a tube amp
CRANKED it to ENJOY it"
by a guitar/amp guru

[slowspeeder]

my personal description:

solid state amps:  turbocharged 4 cyl engine (a little fizzy)
tube/valve amps:  V-8 engine (more muscle, more thump)

with the advent of modern and more efficient PA system,  even a medium wattage tube amp can be miked and sound big onstage. during the classic 70's rock era, wall of 100 watt stacks dominated the stage to deliver the needed power in big arenas. But nowadays, PA's can do the trick.

[joel_marcelo]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

Susmar.

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[Boxedking]

If you'll only buying a Tube Amp just to use it in your Bedroom...magsasayang ka lang ng pera.... Mag software emulation ka na lang using your computer

''But..but Ampsims sound so synthetic and fake''...  I call BullSh!t on that...even a FREE LePou Amp will beat a Goldea Amp at any given day...Malayo na ang narating ng Ampsims ngayon

I disagree. I have experience with both tube amps and amp sims. Iba pa rin ang feel ng tube amp kumpara sa amp sims. They may sound close kapag sa compressed MP3 file mo na pinakinggan. Pero kapag live, malayong malayo. I once ab'ed a 6505+ combo with its amp sim counterpart. Dun pa rin ako sa de tubo.