Tube Amp

[Julien]

Yes...I understand the physics of that. But 100 tube watts feels much different than 100 solid state watts. Ask any guitar player or bass player.

Regarding tone: Due to the analog nature of vacuum tubes, they produce positive order harmonics. These harmonics are pleasing to the ear and generally considered warmer sounding.

Transistor power amp sections on the other hand combine negative order harmonics with positive order harmonics and the perception is a colder, harsher sound.

I tend to agree with the conventional wisdom that vacuum tubes sound better when used in power amps. However, other than a tube buffer or initial gain stage, solid state is fine for signal generation.

An iPod sounds much better through a tube power amp than a solid state power amp to my ears. But, the best situation is an analog tape or vinyl with a tube power amp.

I think that a cassette sounds better than a cd. But I like what tape hiss does for the top end of a recording.

I just bought this little guy to use as a preamp for my Audiosource AMP210 in my living room with the hopeful intention of making my maggies (borrowed picture) sound warmer. I love how my little tube amp sounds on my desk paired with the bose 6.2, but it has no where near enough umph for the maggies.

[marshallnoise]

I just bought this little guy to use as a preamp for my Audiosource AMP210 in my living room with the hopeful intention of making my maggies (borrowed picture) sound warmer. I love how my little tube amp sounds on my desk paired with the bose 6.2, but it has no where near enough umph for the maggies.

That is rad! Should get you a good little signal boost before hitting your power amp.