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Tubes Or Solid State, A Perspective

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#121
GrowlerBox said:
I continue to read lots of unsubstantiated stuff from seamonkey, claims which he continues to make despite the absence of measurements which he continues, somewhat perversely, to demand.
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Correct. Saying "the diodes conduct in normal operation" is a claim for which we have no hard evidence.

However, saying "the diodes do not conduct in normal operation" is also a claim for which we have no hard evidence.

How much this matters is up to the individual. I'm curious enough to go find out, when I have the time.

How about a time-out on the whole topic until I, or someone with more free time, come back with a definitive answer?
 
#122
I have tried so many different amp combinations during the past 38 years of playing bass that I am actually embarrassed to show people my past gear list (it makes my ex-wife's collection of 175 pairs of shoes seem like a mere handful).

On the "tubes versus solid state" discussion, which this thread is about, I will offer my humble opinion (and that is all it is...an opinion, based on my own personal experience).

The best tone I have ever achieved is through my USA Ampeg SVT-VR through a pair of LDS nEarful 15/6 cabs.

So, if you were to ask me which sounds better to me, it's an all tube amp. I think tubes sound better than solid state.

I am a civil engineer, and I love math and science, but I really do not care about technical specs regarding tubes versus solid state. All I know is what sounds better to me. Plus, in addition to the sound, there is the feel. When I play through my Kern IP-777 tube preamp plugged into my QSC solid state power amp, it sounds good, but not as good as the SVT-VR, and as far as the "feel" goes, the SVT-VR wins hands down (IMO). It feels like it moves more air. It's hard to put into words, but the all-tube amp feels thicker and more alive.

All of this is IMO, of course. I respect all opinions, and I am not saying that my opinion means anything factual. I am just saying what my personal experience and preference is with respect to sound and feel.

I am looking forward to plugging my Kern tube preamp into my Demeter 300M 300watt all tube power amp to see how that sounds and feels.
 
#123
seamonkey said:
"All Tube" is signal path. i.e. power supplies don't count, but putting them in the signal path is different.

No expert has yet to say the diodes here don't clip. And from the thread above, other tube amp users have found that adding diodes does change the sound. Marshall too.

Maybe % wise there very little SS in the signal path, but it still can be contributing a larger % to the output sound.

What's it going to hurt for someone to measure them?
I'll wait for the measurements.
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Who makes these rules?

Also, what are your specific rules as to what counts as the power supply and what counts as the signal path. Last time I checked the entire amplifier was nothing but a modulated power supply.

But while we are at it, and to add some more fuel to the fire:

I know the tradition in this thread has been to throw around wild ass guesses regarding things we have no knowledge of, but to people who have actually spent some time with an SVT on a workbench, have a look at this:

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or if you can;t make that out, this:

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In addition to the diodes right at the front of the power amp that Seamonkey is all worked up about, their is an unusual use of diodes in parallel to the control grid resistors of the 6550's. You don't see this on every SVT schematic, but they do seem to be on every V9 schematic. They have also been there on all of the (admittedly not that many) old SVT I've had a look at.

Anybody know what's going on with those things?
 
#124
projectMalamute said:
Last time I checked the entire amplifier was nothing but a modulated power supply.
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Well, yeah.

But so's my PC and pretty much every other electronic device on the planet, from the right perspective.

projectMalamute said:
their is an unusual use of diodes in parallel to the control grid resistors of the 6550's.
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Aren't those the screen grids?
 
#128
fdeck said:
Regarding those diodes, what's the gain of the power amp? If we knew that, we could figure out if the diodes are doing anything at normal signal levels.
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Or in the other direction, what's the gain of the preamp? Assume 1.2V p-p (as per here) input, anything above a net gain of 1 would imply diode turn-on.

Which makes one somewhat suspicious...
 
#129
I love the sound of tubes, I love the reliability of solid state. I had a SVT3Pro that had a tube pre and solid state power.

All tube is awesome if you want to get that vintage sounding grind. But if you want just a little edge, hybrids will work.

Solid state is awesome if you want just the sound of your bass. Tubes tend to add color and character, if that is desired.

But with that saggy, grinded, overdriven, compressed sustain comes a price and weight.
 
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