![]() This is one reason why electronic and classical music enthusiasts often prefer solid state over tubes. And because the ‘noise-floor’ with transistors is close to nil at 0.005hd (harmonic distortion), they provide an almost distortionless listening experience. So much so in fact, that higher-end solid state equipment will give you music replication playback that is as close to original source as is possible, minus any sound coloration. The sound of music played through silicon transistors is crisp and technically more accurate. Bass control, say proponents, is tighter and allows for faster gain control - which results in a more immediate punch and overall presence to the music. They tend to offer more watts-per-dollar, so to speak, and can pretty much blow tube equipment out of the listening room in terms of sheer power. Solid state amps can be more robust, durable and power efficient than their tube counterparts. Listeners who prefer the sound of solid state often cite their ‘clean,’ more detailed sound. Silicon transistor-based amplification technology has come a long way over the years. McIntosh Setup at Echo Audio in Portland Solid State Amplifiers The tube amp gets its power through glass vacuum tubes with voltage. They convert the voltage from the output tubes to current that runs through wires and into the speakers to create sound. If you’re looking at, for example, a Luxman- SQ-N150 integrated tube amp, these transformers are the three large, heavy, black square-looking objects located in the rear of a tube amp. Tube amps, by contrast, are driven by voltage and as such need output transformers. They typically have only one power transformer, and utilize silicon with current. Solid State amps are driven by current throughout the output’s devices. When comparing the sound of tube versus solid state amplifiers, take into consideration that these machines work in different ways to generate their sound output. Comparing solid state and tube amplification prompts similar conversations.Īs a way to help you make more informed decisions, what follows is a primer on the differences between tube and solid state amps. But lossless digital files can sound more accurate and, when remastered correctly, more precise than a record. At best, vinyl delivers a depth and sonic richness that CDs don’t attain. Anyone who’s purchased a poorly mastered new release on wax knows that’s not necessarily the case. But they do sound different.ĭeclaring, as many gearheads do, that tube amps will bring you more joy is akin to arguing that a vinyl copy of a record will always sound better than a digital source. Both approaches generate a similar result: quality audio reproduction. Stones? Biggie or Tupac? - ultimately it comes down to taste as to whether tube amps or solid state/transistor amps offer a more precise document of the studio session. As with all aesthetic arguments - Beatles vs. ![]() When committing to hi-fi audio gear you’re going to have a lot of choices, and among the most crucial is whether you’ll be looking for a tube or solid state amplifier.įor decades, this enduring debate within the audiophile community has divided fanatics into two camps.
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