The ups and downs of tube vs. SS...


I’d like to hear from the people that have had both. Why tube? Why SS? What are the ups and downs of both? How does owning one or both differ? I’ve always owned SS, but also lusted after tubes....
jtweed
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Showing 2 responses by wspohn

I swing both ways.

SS is suitable for headbanger music that requires huge current input, but can also work well with acoustic music if you choose the right amp.

Tube amps are lower output and tend to soften transients (a gross generalization, but...) while presenting a very fluid replication of the music.

Both will work, but how well depends on the rest of your system.

I drive some very inefficient electrostats that have impedance curves that drop to 1 ohm with big class A power amps.

I listen to my main speakers (92 dB) using a 70 watt tube amp that sounds just delightful despite a part of the range being at 3 ohms or a bit less.  When I switch to video use, I switch in a power amp that puts out around 400 watts.

define what sort of music you listen to, and how efficient your speakers are and that will tend to indicate what sort of power amp you should look at.

I drive some very inefficient electrostats that have impedance curves that drop to 1 ohm with big class A power amps.
You might be surprised to find that tube amps can manage a load like that. IME many people think ESLs are inefficient and difficult to drive but I find that isn't completely true- they are often more efficient than thought, and their load can be problematic for certain amps, depending on the ESL.

You are quite right that the dip in impedance occurs at high frequencies (plus a low down in the bass where they don't reproduce a signal much at all)  I have Martin Logan CLS (original). I did try  CJ Premier 11a on them and while doing a pretty decent job, it fell short of the Classe DR3 VHC I currently run on them, despite having 45 w as opposed to 70 w from the CJ.

OTOH, that same CJ is magic with my main system Wilson Maxx2, having plenty of punch.  Not as much as the Roland 5 I was using with them (now doing AV system service) and the bass is not as convincing, so those organ LPs could use a bit more grunt, but on most acoustic music, magic.  So much so that I haven't bothered trying a couple of other power amps I have (bridged pair of DR3 VHC and a Belles A) on that system - too busy listening happily to tibes.