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In Reply to: RE: Tube sound - how much is due to the caps? posted by Bold Eagle on December 13, 2015 at 06:58:28
The difference between tube and solid state sound are the types of distortion they produce.Tubes produce even order distortion and SS amps produce odd order distortion. Our ears are built for even order harmonic distortion. Harmonics are based on the fundamental note,pitch,tone.
You question about how much of a difference is due to coupling caps of one vs the other is very little. The inherent sound of any amplifier is due to the type amplifying devices,in this case a tube vs a transistor.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
Follow Ups:
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(NT.)
Mike,
Two comments. First, push-pull devices, whether tube or transistor, produce more odd order harmonics because the symmetry of the design affects the upper and lower half wave the same. Single ended amps produce mostly even order.
H. A Hartley talked about this in his book years ago, and warned of the evils off higher order harmonics. His book was all tube amp designs.
Second, if caps don't make a difference in the sound, what am I hearing, and why are there strong opinions about what kind of caps to use in various amps?
Jerry
I'm not saying caps don't make a difference in sound,on the contrary.What I was gathering from your statement was,is the reason tubes sound different than solid state amps because of the type of coupling caps used and the answer is no..I was comparing ss to tubes.
We also have to remember that many of the undesirable harmonics are cancelled in the push-pull stage. Take a single ended amp especially a SET amp into deep clipping on the scope and the sinewave just about looks like a square wave.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
Edits: 12/13/15
Mike,
You misunderstood. I only suggested it might be one of the differences, and was looking for opinions on how much of an effect that had. You have a lot more practical experience than most of us, so I'd value a considered opinion on that specific issue. Based on my experience bypassing electrolytic coupling caps, I'm pretty sure the difference is not zero.
Jerry
I agree that the physics of how vacuum tubes work, versus solid-state, prolly has the most to do with differences in final tone/sound.
Seems that the limitations & general characteristics of tubes are more pleasing to the brain than solid-state. To many ppl.
Hope to see more of your posts.
8^)
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