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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
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I did not knock tubes or applaud SS...
Dave_b (Threads | Answers)

On 7/23/09 you wrote:
Anything that dulls, rounds off or clouds the soundstage is unacceptable! Most tube based components get in the way, despite whatever plus they may offer.
Dave_b (Threads | Answers)

To me, this statement of 7/23/09 knocked tubes (and illustrated a lack of experience with a variety of tube components). There are many tube components that do not dull, round off, or cloud the soundstage. In fact, in my ownership of tube gear (VAC, Atma-Sphere, Lamm, ARC, Modwright, Moscode, Supratek, Leben), only the Supratek possessed some qualities you describe. So, I can not agree that most tube components get in the way.
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
Tvad- Further; making that statement would seem to imply that the individual had listened to, "most tube based components" that have been manufactured. A premise that I highly doubt!
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Tvad, A good observation. It was this exact statement that got my 'interest' going and was the fundamental reason I posted. I suspect that if I heard his 'optomized' soundstage I would consider it as unrelated to the sound of a live event as the lack of reality that he seems to think would be introduced by the use of 'tubes'.

None of it sounds real, amplified in the venue or not. SS or tubes. And, IMHO, it is not even close, so why not just pick the sound that you prefer, tell youself that it is as close to your recall of real as you can get, and be happy.

He seems to have overlooked the fact that the OP didn't ask for a discussion on the benefits of SS v Tubes, a decision that had already been made. Seen in that frame, which was my frame of reference, I couldn't understand why he would bless the thread with his observations about his views of the strengths of SS and the 'apparently' universal weakness of tubes.

Oh well, time for me to shut up as well. :-)
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
2,267 posts
 
Oh my God, just listen to your tubes and get off already! Some tubes, most tubes, your tubes, my ex-tubes, her tubes, tubes tied...what the freakin' hell, are you guys for real? Most tubes "I've" owned and or listened to. I had ARC reference gear in one rig...don't even get me started on that horrid 6H30 tube:O( Did I mention I am around live music almost everyday? It aint tubelike and it aint SS...it's real.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
"Just listen to your tubes and get off already...."

Try these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dF2WcrdxdQ
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