John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

[Curly Woods]

Originally Posted by john curl

All else being equal, tubes are better. but solid state is a real intellectual challenge, and more practical too.

For any commercial venture where warranties are involved, I completely agree. For DIY, I would not think of listening to anything else (sans any SS circuits of course). It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bushel!

[Joshua_G]

Though I haven't tried very many amps, out of those I tried, the good tubes ones sounded much better than the good SS ones. That includes phono stages, pre-amps and power amps. However, I didn't have a chance to hear any amp designed by John Curl, so I'm still open.

[john curl]

Stick with tubes, Joshua.

[PMA]

Originally Posted by john curl

All else being equal, tubes are better.

Not mine cup of coffee. This may be very subjective, as many issues in audio.

[Joshua_G]

Originally Posted by PMA

Not mine cup of coffee. This may be very subjective, as many issues in audio.

In audio, everything other than measurements is subjective. Even measurements alone don't tell the whole story. So, bottom line is, everything, without exception, is subjective.

[Curly Woods]

Originally Posted by PMA

Not mine cup of coffee. This may be very subjective, as many issues in audio.

SS definitely measures better, but tubes bring the richness and sweetness of real acoustic instruments to life. Rock and roll or any amplified type music, many prefer SS. I love the big wall to wall sound stage, the realness of a singer, the naturalness of stringed instruments, etc that only good tubes do. SS is too much of a "paper ship on a paper sea" effect for me personally, although the best of SS is quite good, when designed properly.

[PMA]

I listen mostly to classical music, chamber and philharmonic orchestra. Tubes make fables, they are not true.

[cliffforrest]

Originally Posted by Curly Woods

SS definitely measures better, but tubes bring the richness and sweetness of real acoustic instruments to life. Rock and roll or any amplified type music, many prefer SS. I love the big wall to wall sound stage, the realness of a singer, the naturalness of stringed instruments, etc that only good tubes do. SS is too much of a "paper ship on a paper sea" effect for me personally, although the best of SS is quite good, when designed properly.

How easy it is to deceive oneself! Although I doubt you would know how to admit it, Curly.

What you like, and no shame in that, is a big measure of 2nd harmonic distortion!

[SY]

Ahem, my tube preamp has better than 0.004% 2nd at 2.5VRMS output. My tube phono preamp has about 0.02% 2nd at 2.5VRMS output. My tube power amp has better than 0.2% 2nd at full output. All of these are WELL below any established thresholds. So let's not generalize.

[PMA]

Now we are having a topic