Can a tube preamp be used in a Class AB amp and get the tube effect in final amplification ?
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What is an "A/B" amp?
jeff
This my Class A/B Amp a solid state chip amp
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The pedantic folk call Class AB. Anyhow, dont see why you cant use it with a tube pre. The sound contribution of the pre will depend on its design, they can be very neutral, or you could add a bit of 'flavour' which is what I think you have in mind
Sure you can. I much prefer a tube preamp with a SS amp. Takes the edge off. You will not truly get the tube effect as such. The other way around would. SS pre then tube amp.
At the present time I am using a very simple tube pre with a lot of 2nd harmonic. I am in the process of build a push pull tube pre that is "cleaner" to compare. I might prefer the more 2nd harmonic with SS amps. My plan is to use the PP tube pre with tube amps that require a pre to keep everything all tube.
A 6SN7 operating at around 150V on the plate 300ish B+ and 12ma is a very nice sounding preamp. IT'll have inherently low THD and may be more neutral sounding then "tubey".
Highly recommended.
Look at the tubecad kits.
Highly recommended.
Look at the tubecad kits.
Better questions are what don't you like about your SS amp? Did you hear a valve amp and liked it? If so what valve amp was it?
It is a good question and worth thinking about. We usually don't advocate for "tube coloration" for hi-fi applications, the right tube will be quite linear if applied thoughtfully.
The pedantic folk call Class AB. Anyhow, dont see why you cant use it with a tube pre. The sound contribution of the pre will depend on its design, they can be very neutral, or you could add a bit of 'flavour' which is what I think you have in mind
Yes the warmer flavor is what I had in mind but I watched a Bob Carver video with him explaining how a tube amp works . He explained that they get sound from the reflective sound wave bouncing off the speaker facing wall back to push the cone inward causing the coils to move creating a charge that is sent back to the tube via return line . this he said gives you that warm flavor sound we all love but An A/B solid state Chip amp cancels this effect not allowing the speaker cone to be effected by reflecting sound waves . So it makes think the A/B amp being the last in the chain would keep the tube preamp from giving you that warm tone. Am I wrong in assuming this ?
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Wow, sounds like too much BS to me - likely it was about damping factor. There are many different reasons for the sound of tube power amps but you can still get a nice sound from a tube pre and solid state power stage.
It is a good question and worth thinking about. We usually don't advocate for "tube coloration" for hi-fi applications, the right tube will be quite linear if applied thoughtfully.
What tube would you suggest because Im quite a newbie to amps and know almost nothing about tube amps other than they give a very warm rich tone...
Wow, sounds like too much BS to me - likely it was about damping factor. There are many different reasons for the sound of tube power amps but you can still get a nice sound from a tube pre and solid state power stage.
Here is the video of Bob Carver. go to almost the end of the video is where he explains his theory on tube amps.../https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ9USqpclWc
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for not-a-lotta-dough you could try out something from eBay: Little Bear P1 Clear Match 12AU7 6922 Tube Headphone Class A PRE AMP Amplifier | eBay
Absolute B*LLSH1T, can't believe respected Bob Carver said such a thing?He explained that they get sound from the reflective sound wave bouncing off the speaker facing wall back to push the cone inward causing the coils to move creating a charge that is sent back to the tube via return line .
Is the age showing?
So a SS and a tube amps , side by side driving speakers in the middle of a beach or a prairie (hint: no reflections) will sound exactly the same?
Pure unadultered cr4p.
this he said gives you that warm flavor sound we all love but An A/B solid state Chip amp cancels this effect not allowing the speaker cone to be effected by reflecting sound waves .
Reflected sound has NOTHING to do with tube warmth, period.
There are many other artifacts behind this, many we like very much even if not very accurate, but *wall reflected* sound? forget it.
EDIT: and 1 minute later, even the Radio Host notices a problem with this, when he realizes things do not work as Bob Carver says, because there is an indeterminate but very long (relative to audio wave width) time delay on reflected waves which makes them lose all sync with signal input, in that case we can't talk of NFB.
Bob Carver just brushes it aside, says "oh yes, the acoustic time delay" and continues with his "explanation" as if it still held.
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Absolute B*LLSH1T, can't believe respected Bob Carver said such a thing?
Is the age showing?
So a SS and a tube amps , side by side driving speakers in the middle of a beach or a prairie (hint: no reflections) will sound exactly the same?
Pure unadultered cr4p.
Reflected sound has NOTHING to do with tube warmth, period.
There are many other artifacts behind this, many we like very much even if not very accurate, but *wall reflected* sound? forget it.
EDIT: and 1 minute later, even the Radio Host notices a problem with this, when he realizes things do not work as Bob Carver says, because there is an indeterminate but very long (relative to audio wave width) time delay on reflected waves which makes them lose all sync with signal input, in that case we can't talk of NFB.
Bob Carver just brushes it aside, says "oh yes, the acoustic time delay" and continues with his "explanation" as if it still held.
Well after all agree it BS what carver said Ill have to agree with you , But Im a newbie to Amp building and when hear something like this wanting to learn from one the pioneers of amp design you want to believe it. Im very Surprised Scot Wilkinson the host let that slide ....
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