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In Reply to: RE: New Amplifier and the Tube .vs SS Debate posted by jaydacus on March 06, 2016 at 21:17:29
One factor almost always forgotten about the convergence of solid state and tube sound i output impedance. Almost all solid state gear has very low output impedance. Tube gear has high output impedance. The lowest I know is the old Melos gear with a value about 0.4 ohms. And that has an affect on frequency response coloration since there is an interaction with the impedance curves of speakers resulting in speaker response which is different between solid state and tube amps.
Just look at Stereophile tests where the amps frequency response is tested into a simulated speaker load and note the easily seen differences of solid state to tube gear.
Follow Ups:
"One factor almost always forgotten about the convergence of solid state and tube sound i output impedance."
I'm sure that has an effect, but it doesn't really explain the typical tube/SS sonic differences very well. I still hear those differences if I run amplifiers into dummy loads and headphones. Damping factor has virtually on effect under those conditions.
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Stereophile's roller coaster impedance test curve forces my VTL amps to vary response by a whopping +- 0.5 db. Such is utterly swamped by other factors.
I don't buy the source impedance excuse either. :)
I didn't mean it to explain the all differences between tubes and solid state, just that significant differences in frequency response are very possible which would be at least one significant variation. And I'll add that it is known that small differences in frequency response at the right places are perceived as differences in detail, transparency, etc.The story is rarely so simple that real world differences come down to a single factor. And also my comments were only meant to point out differences. I said nothing about which format was better to any listener.
Edits: 03/09/16
Nobody is criticizing what you said. SS aficionados are always quick to point out that the ultra-low output Z of transistor circuitry provides better control of speakers, and they're right. IMO, achieving the best synergy between speakers and amps is indeed more difficult and more critical in vacuum tube systems. However, most of the "in your face" differences I hear are in the bass region, and that stands to reason, because woofers respond to damping factor more readily than smaller drivers. In this context, the more beautifully detailed mids and upper registers common to vacuum tube amps aren't explained by this particular characteristic.
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