Thanks Kieran,
You raise good points.... tube amps are a PITA, and I know one guy had a very expensive AR with 8 x 6550 tubes. He was a professional photographer, very meticulous fellow, and finally he became so fed up with buying matched tubes and replacing them every couple of years for best performance that he sold it, disillusioned, and bought a Bel Canto. That lasted about a month, don't actually know what he has now, but the frustrations he experienced were palpable.
Hans,
The SE tube sound is unique, and to me at least, a benchmark I cannot ignore. But I have to say that the only amp I build that comes close to the SE sound is the NAKSA series, and even the NAKSA is very low distortion. The Maya is different again. It has a purity, and natural presentation, which is subtly different to most other amps. It is the only amp I've ever heard which promotes intimacy and realism without actually coloring the music like a tube amp. There is no obvious coloration at all with the Maya - Kieran, do you agree with this? - it simply presents the music as it really is, and engages with authenticity and intimacy rather than with coloration and bloom. The evidence is the breakout of toe tapping and head bobbing that I experienced whenever I play the Maya. That said, I in no way criticize the single ended triode; I love 'em, particularly on simpler music. But they are not the optimal choice on complex orchestral, trance or rock music.
These sorts of arguments go on forever, and are a matter of taste. You don't see people arguing the merits of gorganzola over camembert, but you do see people arguing over tubes v. SS and it's silly. It is taste, and preference, pure and simple, and the fact the market for so many amp types and styles persists after fifty year is clear evidence that not everyone likes the same thing.
I hear comparatives like 'better sound' uttered again and again. There are instances where it's true, particularly in the development of a specific topology as its refined over time, but mostly it's just 'different'. And there is no denying that rigorous engineering people will generally prefer a 'low distortion sound', without much regard for GEB notions of 'how it sounds', simply because it abides by their idea of a straight wire with gain. That's fine too!!
I gotta rush, will return to this dialogue later today...... off to see Steve in Ballarat!
Cheers,
Hugh
