2. amps-preamps
  3. 1293494127

how close in sound can a tube and ss amp sound ?

i have observed threads requesting advice regarding tube sounding solid state amps, within a price point.

i wonder how to confirm such a request.

in addition to recommendations, what about comparing a particular ss amp to a particular tube amp using an experimental design where bias, or preconception has been eliminated ?

has anyone tested the hypothesis that he/she cannot detect the difference between a tube and a ss amp, within the same power range, price point and minimizing interaction problems, such as impedeance mismatches ?

on the other hand if someone is seeking a tube-like sound out of a solid state amp, i would assume that one would use a "classic" sounding tube amp, e.g., cj mv 45, cj 75, cj 100, or cj mv125 as the tube amp and try to find a ss amp that is indistinguishable from the sound of the classic tube amp.

i have found that many ss amps differ with respect to bass and treble response from many tube amps.

in my own case, i would love to find a 120 watt ss amp which sounds like my vtl tube amp. unfortunately, i am not optimistic.

in other threads, some people have stated that it is impossible to find a ss amp that is "tube-like", in the classic sense.
mrtennis
mapman's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mapman
15,679 posts
 
To sum it up, for me, the best tube amps I have heard are the ones that sound more like SS and the best SS amps are the ones that sound more like tubes.

Luckily there are some companies and products out there of both ilks that do a pretty good job of resolving this dilemma. And there are many others that almost do but manage to retain a unique bias to their sound that also has mass appeal.
orpheus10
5,988 posts
 
Mapman, at last; something I can agree with.
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Orpheus10, it depends on the load.
orpheus10
5,988 posts
 
Unsound, could you elaborate. My 75 watt tube monoblocks and my 150 watt SS amp are simply interchanged and all else is the same.
timlub
1,649 posts
 
Hi Orpheus 10, If you ran your tubes into speakers that had phase angle dips, you'd find out real quick about the load. MOST tubes if on the right tap have no problems driving lower impedances, but I haven't seem tubes handle speakers that have deep phase angle dips and the combination of impedances and phase angles ends it. I'm sure some out there can tell you of a tubed amp or two that can handle it, but I haven't seen it.
More to discover