[Hantra]

How do you measure what he's hearing? It's not a tube/SS factor... so, now what? He just has to decide what he likes best and go with it. What if it is a measureable item? Who's going to standardize the spec to always include it? No one.

Hahaha!  Wouldn't that be cool though?

THD:            .005%
S/N Ratio:     90db
Watts:           300 watts into 4 ohms
Emotion:       3724 schlipkins
Voltage:        110 volts A/C

 

So. . .  The thing that I find funny is people who AREN'T emotionally engaged by the same stuff I am.  I mean, one of the most emotional speakers I have heard is the Sophia. . .  My friend Steve listened at the same time.  He hates them. .  hehehe   I mention them once in a while, and he gets all upset. . hehe

B

[AKSA]

On my weekly trek through the site I just read this from John Curl:

You folks make too much out of this. Tubes are the most linear devices that we can use. However, they are not made in a complementary way, so we have to couple the tube stages with transformers or caps. This is a compromise that solid state can design around. However, fets and bipolar transistors have more higher order distortion, because their transfer function is not as linear as a tube. The distortion produced can be reduced in all amps with negative feedback, but that creates other problems, too complex to describe here ...

This is one of the most astute comments I have read here.  It has the wisdom of Solomon, delivered with the informality of Seinfeld.  I just love it!

BTW, it is precisely because of the linearity of the tube that we can design 'romance' into it.  You do that by manipulating operating points and plate loading, and when you design for the lowest possible distortion with tubes, you finish with a sound very like good SS, at least in terms of detail and accuracy.

The essence of designing PP solid state for a tube sound relates to eliminating the crossover distortion (difficult), tailoring the diff stage for slight compression, and reducing lag compensation.  All this is subtle stuff, but it makes the difference.  There is no 'right' sound;  there is only a 'commercial' sound.  This isn't very palatable, but it accounts for the broad spectrum of musical presentations in the marketplace, and probably ensures a place in the Sun for all of them.

Cheers,

Hugh

[DVV]

BTW, it is precisely because of the linearity of the tube that we can design 'romance' into it. You do that by manipulating operating points and plate loading, and when you design for the lowest possible distortion with tubes, you finish with a sound very like good SS, at least in terms of detail and accuracy.
...

To amplify this - if you think back to various discussions here regarding extra biasing of solid state amps, this is what Hugh has called "building in some romance".

I am willing to bet that by taking an amp and increasing its output stage bias, which pushes it more towards class A operation, we do several things at once: we subjectively speed up the output stage (because its class A to B crossover is now higher up, it can react in class A fashion to more of the signal), we linearize it somewhat (how much depends on several factors, and in particular on the transfer characteristics of the output devices) and effectively make it sound "sweeter".

However, we also increase, yes INCREASE, distortion, because it had in all probability been biased at its lowest distortion point. Once we leave that point in either direction, we start having more distortion. What type, how much, where and how is impossible to generalize because there are too many variables, but I find that by and large THD goes up somewhat (essentially immaterial, as even so it will still stay way below the hearsing threshold), but also the intermodulation factors, which are not to be taken lightly.

I completely agree with Hugh's assessment that the lowest distortion point will yield best "detail", and if you add bias to your amp, you will probably notice that you have lost some extra fine detail, but that the whole is better integrated into a more seamless entirety. Less bass, mid and high, more of the organic whole.

Cheers,
DVV

[Psychicanimal]

Where do my SS power amps fall?  A Forté 4 class A and a pair of Marantz Ma-5 Esotec class A or B monoblocks?  They do have outstanding midrange, lack of grain and effortless presentation with lots of depth...

I don't miss selling my Melos SHA-1 hybryd linestage at all.  I thought I would, but I didn't.

[DVV]

Where do my SS power amps fall?  A Forté 4 class A and a pair of Marantz Ma-5 Esotec class A or B monoblocks?  They do have outstanding midrange, lack of grain and effortless presentation with lots of depth...

Into the good guy group?

Cheers,
DVV