RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical?

IMHO based on my study/work in the field the "liquidity" is predominantly a result of the amount of even order harmonic distortion produced - predominantly 2nd order.

For those who read all the misuse of the word "harmonic" on forums, harmonics are simply tones produced that are multiples of the fundamental. In other words, if you play a 1KHz tone you will also find tones at much lower levels at 2K, 3K, 4k, etc. If the number is an even number it is even-order distortion (2nd, 4th, etc.), if the number is even (3rd, 5th, etc.) it is odd-order distortion. Even order harmonics added to the fundamental sound warm and "musical"; odd-order harmonics added to the fundamental sound cold and shrill/harsh/etc. Harmonic distortion is the term used to describe it.

So it is clearly possible to have an amp that has extended frequency range and also has a distortion signature that is mostly 2nd order - meaning a warm "liquid" tone - but not have the rolled off top end that makes it "fat/rolled off" and "lush".

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - jazz251 14:39:15 08/04/12 (18)

No- its all about distortion - Ralph 10:39:06 08/06/12 (3)

RE: No- its all about distortion - morricab 05:02:34 08/08/12 (0)

RE: No- its all about distortion - Jim McShane 11:52:56 08/06/12 (1)

RE: No- its all about distortion - Ralph 12:53:24 08/06/12 (0)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - Alex M 03:45:03 08/06/12 (0)

Nope - triode 13:41:39 08/05/12 (0)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - Jim McShane 10:49:48 08/05/12 (3)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - ahendler 12:32:59 08/05/12 (2)

Yes, but it's not the harmonics on the continuous tone that gives characteristic timbre. - Timbo in Oz 01:07:17 08/15/12 (0)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - Jim McShane 11:38:55 08/06/12 (0)

Nope tubes have real advantages as amplifiers - Timbo in Oz 21:48:39 08/04/12 (0)

No - Jack G 18:07:43 08/04/12 (0)

I don't have an answer to your question - 1973shovel 17:46:04 08/04/12 (0)

I'm a generation behind on ARC amps - plantsman 16:41:43 08/04/12 (4)

RE: I'm a generation behind on ARC amps - AbeCollins 07:08:16 08/06/12 (3)

RE: I'm a generation behind on ARC amps - plantsman 06:17:45 08/07/12 (2)

RE: I'm a generation behind on ARC amps - Mechans 12:13:27 08/08/12 (1)

I only partially agree - plantsman 15:41:29 08/08/12 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - Jim McShane 10:49:48 08/05/12 (3)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - ahendler 12:32:59 08/05/12 (2)

Yes, but it's not the harmonics on the continuous tone that gives characteristic timbre. - Timbo in Oz 01:07:17 08/15/12 (0)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical? - Jim McShane 11:38:55 08/06/12 (0)

RE: Are tube liquidity/palpability and neutrality antithetical?

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