Tube vs Solid state explained

[ZackerTheScaR]

For short: If you're using it as a computer amplifier, solid state.If you want a amplifier for your electric guitar or bass, tube.

Long answer: Tubes will have something if left on over time called overdrive. This kind of overdrive causes distortion, which is great for guitarists and bassist, not so much for the listening music amplifier. I won't talk about preamp tubes now but power tubes. BOTH EL34 and 6L6(most popular power amp tubes) overheat, causing overdriven sounds, making the output warmer and rougher. Solid states don't suffer from this as they are generally cooler than tubes, and lasts longer. Tubes also need to be replaced over time, as the heat lowers(or highers, I forgot) the pressure in the tubes.

 

Why I bothered to write this? Easy. I see people confused over this and needing clarification. I as a musician and a techie, know the difference between the two, and so I wrote this topic. 

[Guest Kloaked]

I've been using 6L6's for years in my setups and I've yet to have them overheat. 

 

The 'overdriven' sounds are something people actually want in their guitar tones, something your equivalently priced solid state amp will not provide at the same level of tone quality.

 

This is also a very poor comparison, so..

[BoredErica]

There's a difference between music consumption and music production. 

[ZackerTheScaR]

I've been using 6L6's for years in my setups and I've yet to have them overheat. 

 

Really? I use 6L6's in ALL of my amps that support it (only one, so all HAHA)and they DO overheat, at least if you're going to 3-4 hour gigs non-stop.What branded tubes do you buy? I use JJ/Tesla tubes and they overheat over time

[Guest Kloaked]

Really? I use 6L6's in ALL of my amps that support it (only one, so all HAHA)and they DO overheat, at least if you're going to 3-4 hour gigs non-stop.What branded tubes do you buy? I use JJ/Tesla tubes and they overheat over time

 

I haven't had to replace mine yet in my 6505. I play gigs with it at least once a week and practice with it every other day. I do feel like I'm approaching the end of life cycle, though.

 

The tone you get from tubes is worth it. But solid state amps have indeed come a long way, so I'm looking forward to how they sound in a few years.

[Lays]

There's a difference between music consumption and music production. 

 

 

 

[creatip123]

 

 

Why not opamp chip encased in a vacuum tube??

[Lays]

Why not opamp chip encased in a vacuum tube??

 

 

Why not USB flash drive tubes?

 

 

 

 

 

@OT:  I have tried a few SS amps for my LCD-2, and a hybrid tube+SS amp, I like the tube amp more for the versatility it offers, switching tubes is quite fun.

[BoredErica]

Why not USB flash drive tubes?

 

 

 

 

 

@OT:  I have tried a few SS amps for my LCD-2, and a hybrid tube+SS amp, I like the tube amp more for the versatility it offers, switching tubes is quite fun.

I can't believe it's not butter!

 

Ahem. 

The point is, distortion caused by overdriven tube amp is music creation, a creative process, whereas trying to hear what the artist intended is the polar opposite of that.

[MeepLikesToBuildPc's]

Im using a Pioneer A119 and the bass is boss

[BoredErica]

Im using a Pioneer A119 and the bass is boss

[Ardacer]

Well Pioneer does have some good stuff in the high end.. But nothing beats professional hand made (le' lol), especially if you make it yourself.. I just can't wait to start building my first tube amp

[ShearMe]

[mr moose]

I know my farts always sound a little more distorted with decent reverberation if I use a tube,  but there ain't no way I m trying solid state farting,  hell no.

[Ardacer]

solid state farting? So like, pooping?

[bob345]

A bit of miss information here. Over drive is not a property of tubes, overdrive is what happens if the input to power tubes is higher that what they are meant to receive. The same thing can happen with transistors. This is also why tubes in guitar amplifiers need to be replaced so often as they are being run harder than they where designed to. In a well designed audio amplifier, tubes don't need to be replaced nearly as often. Also, the "pressure" in tubes do not raid or lower. They are vacuum tubes meaning that they are void of any gas that has the potential to expand.

[BoredErica]

A bit of miss information here. Over drive is not a property of tubes, overdrive is what happens if the input to power tubes is higher that what they are meant to receive. The same thing can happen with transistors. This is also why tubes in guitar amplifiers need to be replaced so often as they are being run harder than they where designed to. In a well designed audio amplifier, tubes don't need to be replaced nearly as often. Also, the "pressure" in tubes do not raid or lower. They are vacuum tubes meaning that they are void of any gas that has the potential to expand.

I don't understand the problem. Tube amps for guitars can be over driven for whatever distortion the artist wants. Are you implying that solid state amp can make the same distortions easily?

[bob345]

I don't understand the problem. Tube amps for guitars can be over driven for whatever distortion the artist wants. Are you implying that solid state amp can make the same distortions easily?

yes, solid state amps can be overdriven too, though the output of a over driven transistor is not exactly desirable as its simply a clipped signal. The main point I was trying to get across is that not every tube amplifire will distort the audio of the source. It is all about how the amp is designed and its purpose.

[BoredErica]

yes, solid state amps can be overdriven too, though the output of a over driven transistor is not exactly desirable as its simply a clipped signal. The main point I was trying to get across is that not every tube amplifire will distort the audio of the source. It is all about how the amp is designed and its purpose.

Yes, but what I was questioning was whether a SS amp can be overdriven to have the same distortions (and therefore the same altered sound). Anyways, then what would happen if we take a tube designed to be transparent and then overdrive it?

[bob345]

Yes, but what I was questioning was whether a SS amp can be overdriven to have the same distortions (and therefore the same altered sound). Anyways, then what would happen if we take a tube designed to be transparent and then overdrive it?

Overdriven transistors tend to have a very harsh sound when overdriven compared to tubes as the way the distortion occurs is a bit different. You cant really mimic a overdriven tubes sound with a transistor unless you use some sort of sound processor to emulate it before the output stage. Also, tubes made for audio will always be designed to be as transparent as possible including tubes like 6l6 that the op mentioned. this wikipedia article explains what happens pretty well, go down to the valve overdrive part and it should give you a good understanding on what is actually happening to the signal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_%28music%29#Valve_overdrive

[BoredErica]

Overdriven transistors tend to have a very harsh sound when overdriven compared to tubes as the way the distortion occurs is a bit different. You cant really mimic a overdriven tubes sound with a transistor unless you use some sort of sound processor to emulate it before the output stage. Also, tubes made for audio will always be designed to be as transparent as possible including tubes like 6l6 that the op mentioned. this wikipedia article explains what happens pretty well, go down to the valve overdrive part and it should give you a good understanding on what is actually happening to the signal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_%28music%29#Valve_overdrive

Tubes for audio will always be transparent as possible?

Ask Head-fi. 

[bob345]

Tubes for audio will always be transparent as possible?

Ask Head-fi. 

Well, when the where designed they where, you have to remember that vacuum tubes are a very old technology. For 100% accurate reproduction, modern transistors are obviously superior. You can get very good and accurate output from a well designed tube amp though, it just takes a bit more engineering to get it right along with perfectly matched tubes which can get quite pricy.

[BoredErica]

Well, when the where designed they where, you have to remember that vacuum tubes are a very old technology. For 100% accurate reproduction, modern transistors are obviously superior. You can get very good and accurate output from a well designed tube amp though, it just takes a bit more engineering to get it right along with perfectly matched tubes which can get quite pricy.

While we're on this topic, do you feel that SS tube distortions can be replicated with SS and EQ/plugins/etc?

[bob345]

While we're on this topic, do you feel that SS tube distortions can be replicated with SS and EQ/plugins/etc?

I have not really messed much with tube emulation, but with the kind of crazy stuff allot of sound processors can do today, i wouldent doubt it. I dont think it can ever accurately be reproduced  on an analog solid state amp though. Digital ss amps i see no problem with.

[BoredErica]

I have not really messed much with tube emulation, but with the kind of crazy stuff allot of sound processors can do today, i wouldent doubt it. I dont think it can ever accurately be reproduced  on an analog solid state amp though. Digital ss amps i see no problem with.

I think theoretically it is possible, of course the real question is whether such a thing is feasible for the average user. It's easy to fiddle with EQ but getting it done well is hard.