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RE: Do you prefer the "background silence" of SS/Digital, or the that of Tubes/Analog?

Posted by RGA on April 21, 2012 at 18:07:08:
I think on this case you are having a problem with what the guy is writing. The thing is it is quite difficult for anyone to pout an emotional perceived response into words that try to explain what is happening.

We prefer A over B. Tube/SET over Solid State. We do a comparison and now we try to explain what it is about A that sounds better - because it doesn't measure better we can't go to the graph. Tubes also tend to have a higher noise floor. Perhaps that is what he is arguing that noise suppression is taking the music along with it.

I know this was a complaint with some of the Dolby noise suppression options where it reduced the noise but people felt that it also took away some of the music so they preferred to record without noise reduction at all. Note: I am not saying it is right - but I think the writer is attempting to find some sort of "reason" as to why A sounds better than B rather than the usual "I like it better; therefore, it is better."

Other writers use the word organic or whole or rounded or 3D to describe better Tube gear - all words that really mean nothing unless the reader has experienced the same thing. Most B&M stores do not carry tubes and out of the ones that do carry tubes few carry the good ones - they carry the ones that sell based on looks, they sell hybrids, or they sell bigger entry level stuff. Largely the same for turntables.

The only issue with noise or mega pixels in a camera - can you hear it or see it. I get no audible noise from either SS or tube amps that I have owned. My noisiest amp was SS (Sugden A48b) and my quietest amp has been a tube (Antique Sound Labs MG Head DT). But I would not say that is the norm - just a coincidence. Power conditioners should get rid of noise if present.