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What do you see as the downside of tubes?

I have decided on getting a tube amp and it will be the integrated Mastersound 300B driving a pair of Living Voice Avatars, so at least that decision has been taken.

My main question is what you see as downsides of having a tube amp. As I've decided on getting an integrated tube it's really about what the downsides are I might want to know about beforehand.

The ones I'm aware are the following.

-The tubes need to be replaced and in the case of a 300B this will be somewhat costly.

-Bias is another issue but I'm not sure how big an issue. Do you plug in your meter every so often or just when you roll tubes or replace a dead one? The meter as such isn't gonna be a big issue as I don't think it's that expensive.

-Heat won't be a big issue as we have no kids nor a nosy dog that could get burned. Hope my electricity bill isn't gonna go through the roof, but then again, I can't quite imagine that.

I'd appreciate if you could add whatever your experiences are regarding this question are as I'd like to know more before I buy it.

Thanks
krauti
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Atmasphere...As I recall (and it was a long time ago) after "modeling" Carver inserted networks to match what was modeled. Listening tests by a gang of golden ears were unable to distinguish the modeled amp from the real thing.

May I submit that a D/A conversion (digital amp) can be much more linear than any analog component (eg: tube).

Clipping characteristics are of academic interest. I don't operate my amps into clipping.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
Eldartford-Was the modeling used by carver the t that he started to add in his amp names?
mapman's avatar
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
Atmasphere,

Are those things inherent in all tubes versus all transistors, or just more common in practice?

Also, if inherent, technically what is different that accounts for these differences?
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Atmasphere,
1)Tubes are often much more linear than trasistors?
2)Eldartford already addressed this, but isn't easier/cheaper to keep ss amps away from overload?
3)Perhaps you can explain these "capacitive effects"?
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
No need to apologize Mr E- There are also companies that manufacture outboard effects pedals, and guitar amps with options, that attempt to digitally simulate the sound of tubed gear. The vast majority of us still opt for tubed amps though. Nothing sounds quite the same, after years of the real thing. Kinda like bank tellers: After they've handled real money for a while, they can tell fake stuff as soon as they touch it.
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