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Is it true that having both a solid-state amp and a tube amp offers the best of both worlds?

Roland68 said:
You might find this amusing, but—just as in many other fields—a great deal of knowledge has been lost when it comes to the manufacturing of vacuum tubes.
Their quality and longevity are nowhere near as good as they used to be.

In a different century, we used to manufacture, recycle, and refurbish vacuum tubes for television broadcasters, radio stations, professional audio applications, and the like. When demand for them virtually vanished in the 1980s, this entire production division was shut down, and surplus products and materials were destroyed—items that would be worth a fortune today.

Since then, most of the people possessing this specialized expertise have passed away or are no longer available; furthermore, many of the necessary materials can no longer be adequately produced today, as the knowledge required to create them has been lost as well.

Consequently, genuine vintage vacuum tubes from that era now trade for four-figure sums in dollars or euros—and prices continue to rise.
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That must be the era when we put tubes in fighter jets for those few megawatt pulse power radar amplifiers.
 
In the guitar world, good valves are available from reliable sources at reasonable prices.
Many of the valves are common to "hifi" amps. I've had no issue with new valves as opposed to some kind of new-old-stock.
 
Ropeburn said:
That must be the era when we put tubes in fighter jets for those few megawatt pulse power radar amplifiers.
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Perfect for the HiFi guys who can hear micro-wave frequencies?
But seriously, use of valves carried on in some military applications, owing to being more resistant to EMP damage.
EMP stands for Electric Mung-bean People of course - for those familiar with Milehouse Studios.
 
Ropeburn said:
That must be the era when we put tubes in fighter jets for those few megawatt pulse power radar amplifiers.
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You’re right—I hadn't even thought of that; we actually did manufacture them for those kinds of applications back then, too.
 
Roland68 said:
You’re right—I hadn't even thought of that; we actually did manufacture them for those kinds of applications back then, too.
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Somehow the idea got stuck in my head. I used to be a radar data technician at ze Luftwaffe, and every time I see "tube amp" and a power discussion, I think "well that's puny" and about MiGs with 500kg radar tube amps :D

Smerch-A, 600kW:


18633.jpg


Now that's a proper tube product!
 
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antcollinet said:
I'm no expert - but I very much doubt a tube pre amp will have the same distortion characteristic as a tube power amp. Thats even if either of them have audible distortion.
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Yes, I agree, but I think that a transparent tube pre-amp is cheaper to manufacture than a transparent tube power-amp, especially if one wants 100+ W/channel. Then again, I'm no expert either...
 
Ropeburn said:
Somehow the idea got stuck in my head. I used to be a radar data technician at ze Luftwaffe, and every time I see "tube amp" and a power discussion, I think "well that's puny" and about MiGs with 500kg radar tube amps :D

Smerch-A, 600kW:


View attachment 534000

Now that's a proper tube product!
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Looks like a giant oil filter added to the nose! :p
 
Ropeburn said:
Somehow the idea got stuck in my head. I used to be a radar data technician at ze Luftwaffe, and every time I see "tube amp" and a power discussion, I think "well that's puny" and about MiGs with 500kg radar tube amps :D

Smerch-A, 600kW:


View attachment 534000

Now that's a proper tube product!
Click to expand...
Nice!
but...
Two words:
Border.
Blaster.

Border blaster - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

1779455288714.png

1779455331389.png

Now that's a single-ended triode power amplifier! :)

1779455233766.png
 
MatrixS2000 said:
If you want transparent why bother with tubes???
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They are all transparent, aren't they?
To the best of my knowledge, they are made of high-quality borosilicate or quartz glass with a high degree of light transmission.

Neither transistors nor amplifier ICs exhibit this very high level of transparency.
 
MatrixS2000 said:
If you want transparent why bother with tubes???
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I don't, but there are people who like the visual tube glow and this thread is about if tube-ss hybrid could provide the best of both worlds. My logic in all its simplicity is that for such people a tube pre-amp + class D power amp could be the best solution to get tube amp visual appeal combined with good sound quality. You can achieve it also with a really good integrated tube amp, or with a ss pre-amp + tube power amp hybrid, but afaik those would be more expensive to manufacture.
 
Always use bayonet bulbs - the metal cap is not connected to anything on those, and you cannot touch L or N pins on insertion, but it has to be said, the bass response of the bulbs is never less than 50Hz and the treble non-existent.
 
Chr1 said:
... Hmm.... I find the sound signature is too bright and harsh.
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Yeah, you're confusing halogen ones with 'ordinary' bulbs.
 
Ah, ok. Will need to swap in some ordinary for that warmth.

Plus, those pesky newfangled LEDs sound way too cold and clinical, almost digital. WTF.
 
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