Just add some even-order harmonics and kill the damping factor and you're mostly there...
I guess it’s time to come out of the SS closet.
Just add some even-order harmonics and kill the damping factor and you're mostly there...
a la Carver? Been there, done that, no go, it is not the same. It would be nice if it were that simple.
And what about that glorious tube midrange? The midrange of tube amps is about the only thing they come close to getting right because they can’t get the bass or high frequencies right for reasons I stated above. And we hear all types of adjectives used to describe the glories of tube midrange, but I seriously think that any harmonics you hear through a tube amp in the midrange that you find lacking in a great SS amp are just low levels of harmonic distortion being added to the signal that is pleasing to the ear. You can come up with your own counter-theories like “Oh no, tube amps are just letting you hear the harmonics that SS strips out from the signal. Uh-huh. The only difference between that statement and a fairy tale is that it didn’t start off by saying “Once upon a time…”
I always love pointing out this tidbit (factoid) even though it doesn't matter in most real-world applications: If you look at the fundamental characteristics of the devices, a tube's distortion series is factorial, whilst a bipolar transistor's series is exponential. Thus a tube has intrinsically lower distortion than a transistor.
Tubes also work more with voltage fields than current flow, lower gain often means softer saturation when they do distort, and are more radiation-resistant. I truly hope to never be concerned about the latter in my audio system, however. Just sayin'...
I have found the much greater voltage headroom most tube preamplifiers offer provides measurable benefits that may be audible. Not saying I can prove it either way... I do know my old slightly-modified ARC SP3a1 would put out something like 10 Vrms without breaking a sweat (IIRC it clipped at over 50 Vpp), and at typical levels the distortion was vanishingly small (<0.005%) despite it's data sheet. IME, power amps are where tubes are most colored, which does not make them bad, you just need to recognize the fact and work within their limitations and/or accept (and many enjoy) their sound.
Random thoughts - Don (been there, done that, tubes and SS)
Gee, Mark, you've become a whirling dervish of nervosa. May you find peace someday.
Regarding the radiation point, I plead ignorance. I've never been aware of any radiation problems with amps.
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