Hi Pubul57
I think the real Achilles heel for low powered single ended tube amps are (the lack of) appropriate speakers.
Having been active on this BB (an a few others) for a few years now, it is very clear to me that the vast majority of listeners do not have appropriate speakers for their medium to low powered tube amplifiers. Sadly they miss what their amplifiers can deliver. Even more sad (quite shocking actually), are the number of folks that not only listen to sound with a high degree of colorations due to speaker mismatch, but actually consider that to be tube sound and actually enjoy it! Clearly they have little experience with what music actually does sound like.
Given the above, a bigger amplifier, be it tube or transistor, will give a much more accurate and natural reproduction on the source material.
To me, the small tube amp (single ended variety with single digit outputs) presents the most accurate and most natural reproduction of music humanly possible. Speaker choice is more than crucial though, although I always listen to moderate levels. I tend to save my ears for the times I get near front row seats for orchestra/opera or jazz ensembles.
Regards
Paul
I think the real Achilles heel for low powered single ended tube amps are (the lack of) appropriate speakers.
Having been active on this BB (an a few others) for a few years now, it is very clear to me that the vast majority of listeners do not have appropriate speakers for their medium to low powered tube amplifiers. Sadly they miss what their amplifiers can deliver. Even more sad (quite shocking actually), are the number of folks that not only listen to sound with a high degree of colorations due to speaker mismatch, but actually consider that to be tube sound and actually enjoy it! Clearly they have little experience with what music actually does sound like.
Given the above, a bigger amplifier, be it tube or transistor, will give a much more accurate and natural reproduction on the source material.
To me, the small tube amp (single ended variety with single digit outputs) presents the most accurate and most natural reproduction of music humanly possible. Speaker choice is more than crucial though, although I always listen to moderate levels. I tend to save my ears for the times I get near front row seats for orchestra/opera or jazz ensembles.
Regards
Paul