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Re: Which Is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #66787 is a reply to message #65410]

Mon, 28 March 2011 13:38

steve f
Messages: 241
Registered: May 2009

Master

I generally prefer good solid state to tubes. Being a typical audiophile, I keep examples of both. Most tube amps sound too warm to me. Solid state no longer resembles the bronze age designs of the 60-70's.

That said, I believe the best amps period are the tube kits of Transcendent Sound. They are OTL designs that are head and shoulders above the better known brands.

My two favorite line stages sound almost alike, and one is tube, the other solid state. The differences are more bass for the ss and more gain from the tube unit. They are both remarkably silent. My top phono choice is a tube unit, but I haven't tried any ss units priced over $200.

When you really think about it, good equipment should sound very similar. Tonal differences are coloration, and therefore mistakes.

Steve

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Difference Between Solid State Amp and Vacuum Tube Amp [message #69134 is a reply to message #65410]

Tue, 23 August 2011 02:11

Hannah
Messages: 15
Registered: August 2011

Chancellor

What is the difference between these two? I have heard about vacuum tubes used in early computers. Which is better in terms of sound quality?

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #86219 is a reply to message #65410]

Fri, 29 September 2017 19:15

WorkingWoman2017
Messages: 82
Registered: June 2017

Viscount

I would think that solid state would have it all over tubes. Now that they are creating chips that are tubes made of carbon, I think that it can only get better.

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #86224 is a reply to message #86219]

Sun, 01 October 2017 16:39

gofar99
Messages: 2025
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona

Illuminati (5th Degree)

Hi, This is an endless topic. I admit to being a tube person, after all I design and my company sells them. I do however own SS amps as well (three vintage ones by Marantz and a few new things from other companies). Both kinds do the job...feed speakers with sound. They do sound different. Saying which is better is a matter of criteria. Is one type more accurate than the other, does one render music in a more enjoyable manner than the other and so on. Fortunately there is room for both types. Which one you choose depends on your budget, needs and sound preferences.

Good Listening
Bruce

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #88233 is a reply to message #86224]

Fri, 22 June 2018 09:47

Rusty
Messages: 1421
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri

Illuminati (3rd Degree)

I agree with Steve F. The Transcendent Sound amps are one of the most unique sounding amps available. And very reliable. I've used the original T-16 mono's and grounded grid preamp for close to 20 years now with no problems. Also my old Hafler 220 amp I soldered up in the mid 80's is still going strong, and fine sounding too.

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #88234 is a reply to message #88233]

Fri, 22 June 2018 11:23

Wayne Parham
Messages: 19045
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

I agree that Transcendent Sound makes good amps. So does Raven Audio, OddWatt Audio and Audio Note. Those are my personal favorites.

I like Solid State amps too, as long as they are powerful enough they are not driven into clipping. I think one has to be choosier when purchasing tube amps, because there is more variation in quality. You can get great tube amps, average-quality tube amps and really terrible tube amps. Seems like with solid state, there's either good or there's bad. Laughing

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #95731 is a reply to message #88234]

Sun, 26 June 2022 19:29

positron
Messages: 163
Registered: May 2020

Master

I think one has to consider the difference between what is possible
vs the viability. This involves what education the general public
has vs what is possible under lab conditions.

Comparing typical SS/Tube systems, it is probably a toss up between
SS and vacuum tubes. There are so many varieties in both types
that one could claim either.

(I discuss some inherent differences between SS and tubes in another
string in Audio Round Table Forums.)

In the lab is a different case. Hands down the vacuum tube amplifier
can be made to be accurate in absolute terms, from treble to bass.
By that I mean the output sounds so close to perfect accuracy that
one cannot tell if the amplifier is in the system or not.
(Preamps as well.)

It is not one simple listening test, but sophisticated, multiple
types, correlating the results, and taking considerable time, to be
absolutely sure the results are correct.

It involves multiple speaker types, many many musical selections,
developing accurate interconnect cables (ics) and speaker wires,
sources etc etc.

The question then becomes if a lab type system could be incorporated
into a conventional household setting by the average consumer. I say
this as most have expertise in different fields.

But I think to some extent yes, in that one could just as easily
incorporate the best in electronic components, and then work with
the source, ics, speakers, and speaker wires. Room acoustics, of
course, should be addressed no matter the system and venue.

Cheers

pos

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Re: Which Is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #99081 is a reply to message #65629]

Sun, 09 November 2025 01:56

Helen
Messages: 69
Registered: September 2025

Viscount

That’s an interesting question! I’ve heard a lot of people say tube amps have that warm, classic sound that feels more natural while solid-state amps are cleaner and easier to take care of. I’ve never owned either, but I think both have their charm depending on what you like to hear. It’s nice that solid-state amps have improved so much, sounds like you can’t really go wrong with either these days.

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Re: Which is Better, Tube Amps or Solid-State Amps? [message #99489 is a reply to message #65410]

Sat, 06 June 2026 01:41

Hank
Messages: 35
Registered: December 2025

Baron

I like solid-state amps more and have made use of a lot of them for most of my music and movie experiences.

I've got the Boss Katana 100 and Quilter Mach 3, and these amps offer clarity when in use irrespective of the type of music that you are playing. If you add the fact that you don't spend much in maintaining solid-state amps like what we see with tube amps where you replace tubes every 7 to 8 months, then I think one would agree with me that my decision to go with solid-state amps was the right one.

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