why the fad with tube amplifiers?

XxGoKoUxX · 20th February 2008, 01:30 PM

just out of curiosity.... why?

phase_accurate · 20th February 2008, 03:16 PM

Simple and short answer:

Because some people like them !

Regards

Charles

Jonny Hotnuts · 20th February 2008, 05:11 PM

The glow from tubes emit pheromones???

(tube amps have a very detailed and natural sound, plus they look cool)

SY · 20th February 2008, 05:14 PM

For car audio? Geek fashion.

jol50 · 21st February 2008, 02:09 AM

The home units I have heard have a warmer sound, and they are a lot different when they are driven into distortion....it is not near as coarse.

XxGoKoUxX · 22nd February 2008, 05:25 PM

just hearing u guys talk about it kinda makes me wanna experiment, my girlfriend would probably kill me if i spend anymore money this month though

jol50 · 22nd February 2008, 06:36 PM

When I drive a plain car amp into distortion I get a sharp static sound that is nasty. An example of tube sounding distortion is an electric guitar...and people love that sound. Someone into amps and scopes can better explain valve amplifiers. Playing clean they tend to have more bass/midbass I guess, something that can mostly be emulated with a new amp if desired. Since I never have seen a cheap one, I would not IMO waste the money to try one in a car though I have bid on a couple for fun; have too many other fun places to spend on my toys/house/etc. And I don't spend that much time in a car. In the car I just like some good loud, clean music once in a while when nobody is bothering me....

That is what tube amps tend to be the way I see it; for people that happen to want them, like the sound, or just have money to spend to experiment with them. A real tube amp takes a pile of power all the time, is prone to damage from movement, and is limited in power output.

Jonny Hotnuts · 23rd February 2008, 04:58 AM

Tube amps have a sound....some say is more natural and like real life. They are more delicate and are not efficient and this makes them not practical for automotive environments. To be honest, when driving with road, engine and wind noise I cant really tell much difference between most decent amps of like power. You might be able to tell a difference between amps if the car is not moving. I have never seen a in car install of a tube amp.....could be waaay off base by saying this.

Basically, if you plan on driving your car don’t spend the money…..just my suggestion. Tube amps are great…and I aspire to build/ own one but it will be in my house where I can justify having one. In an automotive enviroment I would think that a Mcintosh, old school A/D/S/ PQ or PH, or any high end solid state amp will be better for real world use.

Just my 2 cents.

-JH

XxGoKoUxX · 23rd February 2008, 05:31 AM

hehe would be nice to build an amp for my room.... my 2 speakers need like 200-400 watts... i dont think tube amps can do that though lol

MartyM · 23rd February 2008, 06:17 AM

If anybody asks "why" about using real (not hybrid tube/transistor) tube amps in the car, you obviously never heard of Earl Zausmer's BMW 540.

That guy rocked the car stereo world and brought home a lot of trophies. Look it up!

Of course, assuming one doesn't have "tin ears."

Actually, using a +300V tube amp in the car is my next project.

20th February 2008, 01:30 PM	#1
XxGoKoUxX diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	why the fad with tube amplifiers? just out of curiosity.... why?

20th February 2008, 05:14 PM	#4
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	For car audio? Geek fashion. __________________ "...we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.” - Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

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20th February 2008, 03:16 PM	#2
phase_accurate diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland	Simple and short answer: Because some people like them ! Regards Charles

20th February 2008, 05:11 PM	#3
Jonny Hotnuts diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	The glow from tubes emit pheromones??? (tube amps have a very detailed and natural sound, plus they look cool)

21st February 2008, 02:09 AM	#5
jol50 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	The home units I have heard have a warmer sound, and they are a lot different when they are driven into distortion....it is not near as coarse.

22nd February 2008, 05:25 PM	#6
XxGoKoUxX diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	just hearing u guys talk about it kinda makes me wanna experiment, my girlfriend would probably kill me if i spend anymore money this month though

22nd February 2008, 06:36 PM	#7
jol50 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	When I drive a plain car amp into distortion I get a sharp static sound that is nasty. An example of tube sounding distortion is an electric guitar...and people love that sound. Someone into amps and scopes can better explain valve amplifiers. Playing clean they tend to have more bass/midbass I guess, something that can mostly be emulated with a new amp if desired. Since I never have seen a cheap one, I would not IMO waste the money to try one in a car though I have bid on a couple for fun; have too many other fun places to spend on my toys/house/etc. And I don't spend that much time in a car. In the car I just like some good loud, clean music once in a while when nobody is bothering me.... That is what tube amps tend to be the way I see it; for people that happen to want them, like the sound, or just have money to spend to experiment with them. A real tube amp takes a pile of power all the time, is prone to damage from movement, and is limited in power output.

23rd February 2008, 04:58 AM	#8
Jonny Hotnuts diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	Tube amps have a sound....some say is more natural and like real life. They are more delicate and are not efficient and this makes them not practical for automotive environments. To be honest, when driving with road, engine and wind noise I cant really tell much difference between most decent amps of like power. You might be able to tell a difference between amps if the car is not moving. I have never seen a in car install of a tube amp.....could be waaay off base by saying this. Basically, if you plan on driving your car don’t spend the money…..just my suggestion. Tube amps are great…and I aspire to build/ own one but it will be in my house where I can justify having one. In an automotive enviroment I would think that a Mcintosh, old school A/D/S/ PQ or PH, or any high end solid state amp will be better for real world use. Just my 2 cents. -JH

23rd February 2008, 05:31 AM	#9
XxGoKoUxX diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	hehe would be nice to build an amp for my room.... my 2 speakers need like 200-400 watts... i dont think tube amps can do that though lol

23rd February 2008, 06:17 AM	#10
MartyM diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Monroe, North Carolina, USA	If anybody asks "why" about using *real* (not hybrid tube/transistor) tube amps in the car, you obviously never heard of Earl Zausmer's BMW 540. That guy rocked the car stereo world and brought home a lot of trophies. Look it up! Of course, assuming one doesn't have "tin ears." Actually, using a +300V tube amp in the car is my next project.

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