1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1285113975

solid state vs tubes

has anyone compared a tube amp to a solid state amp and discovered that the diffference sonically between them was undetectable. ? if so what was the tube amp and what was the solid state amp ?

the reason for the question is the basic issue of the ability to distinguish a tube amp from a solid state amp.

this is especially interesting if the components were in production during the 90's , 80's or 70's.

if the components are in current production the probability of such aan occurrence might increasea.

why own a tube amp if there exists a solid state amp that sounds indistinguishable from it ?
mrtennis
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Mapman, I am not convinced that a higher impedance is a technically better playing field. In fact I believe the opposite to be true.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
Maybe.

In general, I believe higher ratios of input impedance on a device downstream to output impedance of the device upstream to always be a good thing, all other things aside.

Of course, in reality you can't just conveniently focus on on e factor and push all others aside, so who knows in any particular case. No one ingredient alone makes for good soup.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
my original question has not been answered:

has anyone participated in a "blind" test comparing a solid state amp to a tube amp and been unable to discern the difference between them , say 7 out of 10 times ?
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
MrT:

That was not your original question.

Which is it?
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Mapman, One of the advantages of ss amplification is it's inherently low output impedance, low speaker impedance speaker loads are almost never a concern. There are some, that believe that the best results occur when impedance's are more closely matched (Jeff Roland?) rather than having a low to high ratio. I suspect it might have more to do with application. It appears to me that it is much easier to achieve better bass response and steadier impedance loads in lower impedance speakers than in higher impedance speakers.
More to discover