I have only ever built tube amps but now need about 50 to 100 W and would like to try solid state mainly to avoid the very expensive output transformers which I have to import.
I am sure other members have also moved away from tubes. What I would like to know is if there have been any regrets and longing to go back to tube sound. Bearing in mind my power needs, which of the many designs should I focus on.
I will use a tube pre-amp so a straight power amp recommendation will be appreciated. Sound quality to be given priority over all other considerations
Regards
I am sure other members have also moved away from tubes. What I would like to know is if there have been any regrets and longing to go back to tube sound. Bearing in mind my power needs, which of the many designs should I focus on.
I will use a tube pre-amp so a straight power amp recommendation will be appreciated. Sound quality to be given priority over all other considerations
Regards
I moved from tubes to solid state and back to tubes, and haven't looked back. I would take the hit on those transformers were it me or look for someone with some to sell..
Went from tubes to transistors and never looked back 🙂 NO more
tranny sound , tube bloat nor expensive mandatory tube replacements ...
Go for it , the future is all yours .....
tranny sound , tube bloat nor expensive mandatory tube replacements ...
Go for it , the future is all yours .....
Like Kevin, I went from tubes to transistors to tubes and now mating the best sounding circuits together 🙂
Agreed 😱
Cheers!
Agreed 😱
Cheers!
I keep lookin' for a SS amplifier that will give me the enjoyment of the better tube amps i have (i have a couple here that aren't all that great)... still questing... the dual mono MOSFET amp is nice on the woofers thou.
dave
dave
In this forum we worship imagination and persistence, not
parts. Tubes and transistors are brothers.
😎
and life moves in clades 😉
parts. Tubes and transistors are brothers.
😎
and life moves in clades 😉
Word of the Day from NP
Main Entry: clade
Pronunciation: \ˈklād\
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek klados
Date: 1911
: a group of biological taxa (as species) that includes all descendants of one common ancestor
I looked it up because I didn't know what it means...
Main Entry: clade
Pronunciation: \ˈklād\
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek klados
Date: 1911
: a group of biological taxa (as species) that includes all descendants of one common ancestor
I looked it up because I didn't know what it means...
Maybe try an F4 driven by a tube preamp.
The preamp will need a quite a bit of gain though. The F4 is unity.
The preamp will need a quite a bit of gain though. The F4 is unity.
I am familiar with several such cases. All reverted quietly back to tubes after a few months. Some solid state is absolutely brilliant but somehow i fail to form real attachment.
Tubes to transistors
Hey guys I'm not really evil, well maybe a little.
Hi Mr. 'a wayne' your post tells me you are happy with your amp. Which one did you end up with, is it a keeper and what is its power output into 8 ohms.
Hey guys I'm not really evil, well maybe a little.
Hi Mr. 'a wayne' your post tells me you are happy with your amp. Which one did you end up with, is it a keeper and what is its power output into 8 ohms.
Hello Charles ,
Many amplifiers over the years , my first "High end" amp was a tube mac , MC 3500 Pr ( 350 watts each ) circa 1976 . Various AR products , tubes and trans and then had a custom Trans amp back 1979 , have preferred transistor amps ever since, the sound suits me better and i hated servicing and maintaining my tube amplifiers ..
I must also state , that i have tried many tubes over recent years and while i have found some " interesting " none never really made it home , i did consider a Cary 300B and a Certain Jadis , but opted out for 2 Pr of modified Aragon monoblocs instead at the time.
I have always preferred high powered amplifiers , 1 ,2, 5,10,20 watt amplifiers never really made it for me , maybe because i have always favored panel speakers or OB speakers and never did favor high eff speakers, always finding them to be unbalanced , lacking in micro dynamics and tonally not my cup of tea .
Which brings me to the present ! I have been out of audio since 98 and just got back in 08 . Amplifiers tried since has been all transistors due to my current speaker of choice ( 4 Way RIbbon Hybrid) hence my search for a Low impedance high current amplifier.
I'm currently using 2 Prs of Adcom 565 monoblocs which I'm currently modifying in an attempt to get them more acceptable and stable on the load .
Amazing that the Adcoms have seen off 9 different popular brands , which has led me now to search again for a custom made trans amp of which I'm currently looking at the Aleph designs on here to see if one would fit the bill and be turned into a high current low impedance drive amplifier .....
Many amplifiers over the years , my first "High end" amp was a tube mac , MC 3500 Pr ( 350 watts each ) circa 1976 . Various AR products , tubes and trans and then had a custom Trans amp back 1979 , have preferred transistor amps ever since, the sound suits me better and i hated servicing and maintaining my tube amplifiers ..
I must also state , that i have tried many tubes over recent years and while i have found some " interesting " none never really made it home , i did consider a Cary 300B and a Certain Jadis , but opted out for 2 Pr of modified Aragon monoblocs instead at the time.
I have always preferred high powered amplifiers , 1 ,2, 5,10,20 watt amplifiers never really made it for me , maybe because i have always favored panel speakers or OB speakers and never did favor high eff speakers, always finding them to be unbalanced , lacking in micro dynamics and tonally not my cup of tea .
Which brings me to the present ! I have been out of audio since 98 and just got back in 08 . Amplifiers tried since has been all transistors due to my current speaker of choice ( 4 Way RIbbon Hybrid) hence my search for a Low impedance high current amplifier.
I'm currently using 2 Prs of Adcom 565 monoblocs which I'm currently modifying in an attempt to get them more acceptable and stable on the load .
Amazing that the Adcoms have seen off 9 different popular brands , which has led me now to search again for a custom made trans amp of which I'm currently looking at the Aleph designs on here to see if one would fit the bill and be turned into a high current low impedance drive amplifier .....
I use both, tubes on midrange and hights, solid state on woofers.
Currently have about a dozen of fully working tweeked tube amps and about half a dozen solid state amps. It often depends what speakers you mate the amp with.
Currently have about a dozen of fully working tweeked tube amps and about half a dozen solid state amps. It often depends what speakers you mate the amp with.
+1 adason - I do the same
IMO its tough to beat the famous tube midrange...
The F3 that I heard comes eerily close though.
IMO its tough to beat the famous tube midrange...
The F3 that I heard comes eerily close though.
Heard an F5 up against my version of the Valve Tabor. The F5 matched the tabor and might even have beat it on overall balance. Remarkable and probably one of the only designs which can achieve this. Still you won't be getting your 100Watts with an F5 without buying new air conditioning. This is probably an insurmountable problem in that anything delivering a 100W is going to be well into class B and thats going to find it difficult to compete in terms of sound quality.
Shoog
Shoog
For me it was never if the amp is tube or solid state. For me the sound I want to achieve dictates what amp I have to use. I do have highly efficient speakers, so the wattage is no issue. I just keep swaping amps till I am happy. Biamplification simply evolved as logical step...
It is possible to have the same amplifier sounding great on some speakers and sounding dull on others, I guess the question "tubes or transistors" is simply not relevant unless someone specifies the speakers...
It is possible to have the same amplifier sounding great on some speakers and sounding dull on others, I guess the question "tubes or transistors" is simply not relevant unless someone specifies the speakers...
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