tube watts vs solid state watts

The clipping characteristics of tube and ss amps do differ, and tubes do sound less harsh and do less harm to tweeters. However, except in Pro sound applications, anyone who, on a regular basis, drives their amps into clipping is simply using the wrong amp. Solid state amps can have circuitry that detects when clipping is on the verge of happening, and prevents it by a gain reduction. Of course this is compression, but at extreme volume level it is scarcely noticeable, and sure is better than clipping. Pro sound amps are most likely to have this feature, because these amps are often used right up to their power ratings, and with live sources that can not be preauditioned to set gain. I am using CarverPro digital amps, 600 wpc at 4 ohms, that have clip detection, and I have this feature switched on. Much to my surprise I discovered that my Maggie 1.6 speakers, 4 ohms, can trip the clip limiter feature if I play certain music at too high a volume level.

Jax2

"d" minor - saddest of all keys.

:-)

interesting paper about tubes vs transistors here

http://www.milbert.com/tstxt.htm

Larry

The "paper" by Russel Hamm appears to be a presentation at a session of the AES nearly 13 years ago. Such presentations typically are not peer reviewed. The questions following a presentation can be a form of peer review. The presenter appears to have connections with a manufacturer of tube amplifiers. Were it a peer reviewed article, I suspect the premise of the study, driving equipment beyond its operating range, might have been questioned and caveates added to the generalizations. Furthermore the confusion of the "loudness" of a trumpet with its SPL should have been corrected. Finally, why study the attacks of synthesized instruments rather than the instruments themselves?

Bottom line: This is not a peer reviewed article, but a presentation in front of a session of a technical society by someone with commercial connections that give the appearnce of a conflict of interest. I have seen presentations where there were only a few people in the audience, other presentations where the questions were embarassing and/or contentious -- I chaired a session that had one such presentation. As chairman, you're faced with a dilemma: Do you hold to schedule for the convenience of those who jump from session to session or do you permit extended discussion that is the reason for live presentations? You'll make enemies in either case.

db

hi,

"The "paper" by Russel Hamm appears to be a presentation at a session of the AES nearly 13 years ago. Such presentations typically are not peer reviewed."

I don't think you know that for a fact. I've presented papers before various orginizations and they were all peer reviewed before I was allowed to present them.

Larry