Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:22 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:21:40 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

However, I can tell the difference between, say, my Mac 50s and a
similar power level solid state monoblock.

I think it's safe to say that the old tube amps had more "warmth",
just the thing for a cold winter's night in New England. :-)

As old records sound better than some of the remastered stuff..;) It's
a matter of taste. I saw salty's post over at google but that's what I
was talking about. I won't see him here along with the other internet
hero, unless someone quotes them...

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:22 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:21:40 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

However, I can tell the difference between, say, my Mac 50s and a
similar power level solid state monoblock.

I think it's safe to say that the old tube amps had more "warmth",
just the thing for a cold winter's night in New England. :-)

Plus, the extra added advantage of glowing in the dark.

Nothing like a dim room and the soft glow of vacuum tubes. :)

I should take a picture of my Dad's Collins S-line some evening after
dark.

Now that's a sight. :)

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:35:30 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:15:17 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:


Hendrix sounds like ****, digital.

Does anyone honestly have any idea what that means? I'm sure
Stairflopper doesn't. I'm just curious if anyone else can parse it and
make some sense of it.

Maybe he's not a Hendrix fan. :)

Our family attorney is a big time audiophile with all kinds of early
Marantz, Mac and Sherwood stuff - collects them actually - and once I
took over my prized Derek and The Dominos (autographed) album to play
on his Mac system.

The comparison to what you get off a CD is incredible to say the
least.

Even the geek who has everything...
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:22 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:21:40 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

However, I can tell the difference between, say, my Mac 50s and a
similar power level solid state monoblock.

I think it's safe to say that the old tube amps had more "warmth",
just the thing for a cold winter's night in New England. :-)

Plus, the extra added advantage of glowing in the dark.

Nothing like a dim room and the soft glow of vacuum tubes. :)

I should take a picture of my Dad's Collins S-line some evening after
dark.

Now that's a sight. :)

Don't the 30S-1 and 30L-1 use ceramic output tubes? Now the glass tubes in
the rx and tx would glow for sure.

Even the geek who has everything...
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:35:30 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:15:17 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:


Hendrix sounds like ****, digital.

Does anyone honestly have any idea what that means? I'm sure
Stairflopper doesn't. I'm just curious if anyone else can parse it and
make some sense of it.

Maybe he's not a Hendrix fan. :)

Our family attorney is a big time audiophile with all kinds of early
Marantz, Mac and Sherwood stuff - collects them actually - and once I
took over my prized Derek and The Dominos (autographed) album to play
on his Mac system.

The comparison to what you get off a CD is incredible to say the
least.

I'm sure glad I don't have *gifted* hearing and all its apparent associated
problems. 8).

Even the geek who has everything...
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:42:06 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:50:49 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:


wrote in message
m...



Yes, and solid state pre amps and power amps are cleaner than tube
amps, as well. Clean and accurate reproduction is not necessarily the
objective with tube amplifiers for musical instrument amplification.

How the power is delivered to tubes can measurably affect things such
as rise time and decay. I'm not promising that you can actually hear
the difference, but purists will swear they can even if it is a
physiological impossibility.


If you think about it though, the "power" is really being delivered by
one
or more big filter capacitors. I never asked one if it cared how the
power
got there. At that point, DC is DC.

Eisboch


You would think so, wouldn't you! Bear in mind that a vacuum tube is a
mechanical structure and not all of the power is part of the signal
path. You have to account for uneven heat, vibration and other
anomalies that all go into what come out. The vagaries of a wimpy,
tube rectified power supply, with hand rolled paper caps should not be
underestimated.

Purists will also insist that point to point wiring sounds different
than circuit board construction. They may be right about that in some
cases. Sounds crazy, though...


I'll buy into the point to point wiring. An important critera used in
high
quality tube amps was to design the chassis so the signal wiring was as
far
away as possible from the power wiring. And, if you noted any funny
noises
or distortion, you could always re-route the wires.

As for the power supply, I am still not convinced a tube rectifier is
going
to sound (or display on an O'scope) any different than solid state, if
measured at the filter stage or any B+ test point. The audio amplifiers
certainly are different between solid state and tubes and that is readily
noticeable, even by people with tin ears.
But 300 volts DC?

Well, good points every one.

However, I can tell the difference between, say, my Mac 50s and a
similar power level solid state monoblock.

And I know others who can.

So there must be something to it.

Maybe it's all in our heads.

Mine's certainly empty enough. :)


Time out. I am not debating the sound of a solid state audio amp versus a
tube audio amp.
The difference is noticeable to many and, IMO the tube amp wins every time.

I am questioning if anyone can really discern a difference in an amp with
tube audio amplifiers that has a solid state, full wave bridge rectifier
versus the same tube type amp that also has a tube rectifier section. In
both cases, the rectifier, tube or solid state, is simply producing the
plate and grid voltages needed for the audio (signal) tube amps.
I just don't think that the resultant, filtered high voltage, regardless of
source, makes any difference in sound or coloration.

Eisboch

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Aug 19, 3:44*pm, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:35:30 -0400, wrote:
On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:15:17 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

Hendrix sounds like ****, digital.

Does anyone honestly have any idea what that means? I'm sure
Stairflopper doesn't. I'm just curious if anyone else can parse it and
make some sense of it.

Maybe he's not a Hendrix fan. *:)

Our family attorney is a big time audiophile with all kinds of early
Marantz, Mac and Sherwood stuff - collects them actually - and once I
took over my prized Derek and The Dominos (autographed) album to play
on his Mac system.

The comparison to what you get off a CD is incredible to say the
least.

To say the least indeed.. if he had to ask, he can never understand.

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:41:27 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Plus, the extra added advantage of glowing in the dark.

Nothing like a dim room and the soft glow of vacuum tubes. :)

I should take a picture of my Dad's Collins S-line some evening after
dark.

Now that's a sight. :)

Yes, nothing like that dull red glow from the plates of power tetrode
that is really pushing out the watts! And if it happens to be just a
tad gassy you get that interesting blue flicker, all of which has
unfortunately gone missing in the solid state era. Someone with a big
old amp should make some YouTube videos for old times sake.

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:09:18 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

Time out. I am not debating the sound of a solid state audio amp versus a
tube audio amp.
The difference is noticeable to many and, IMO the tube amp wins every time.

I am questioning if anyone can really discern a difference in an amp with
tube audio amplifiers that has a solid state, full wave bridge rectifier
versus the same tube type amp that also has a tube rectifier section. In
both cases, the rectifier, tube or solid state, is simply producing the
plate and grid voltages needed for the audio (signal) tube amps.
I just don't think that the resultant, filtered high voltage, regardless of
source, makes any difference in sound or coloration.

All else being equal I'd have to agree. I guess it's possible that a
solid state rectifier substituted for a vacuum tube rectifier could
result in some subtle voltage differences.

Even the geek who has everything...
 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:09:18 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

I am questioning if anyone can really discern a difference in an amp with
tube audio amplifiers that has a solid state, full wave bridge rectifier
versus the same tube type amp that also has a tube rectifier section. In
both cases, the rectifier, tube or solid state, is simply producing the
plate and grid voltages needed for the audio (signal) tube amps.
I just don't think that the resultant, filtered high voltage, regardless of
source, makes any difference in sound or coloration

I agree and you are correct.

It's been one of those days - I'm totally out of synch with life, the
universe and everything. Additionally, a certain person of my
acquaintance (not to mention any names, but first initial Mrs. last
initial Wave) cheerfully informed me that retirement is still a ways
off because she has some things she wants to accomplish at a national
level with her professional association.

I can't freakin' win for losing today. :)