Huhuru ... you rock, I'm 62 and still listen to a couple old Fisher tube receivers...60's were the days..
Got out of tubes in the early 80's , dont miss it and never looked back , ....
http://www.samsung.com/us/2012-vacuum-tube-amplifier/
Think this proves that tubes are mainstream now......
Heard this thing at Best Buy, it really kinda sucked....
I'm 42 and look at this differently. The expense isn't the tubes, great sound isn't from expensive tubes, its all about the iron. Take the iron from a $40k tube amp and anyone can build an amp with that iron that sounds as good for a few hundred bucks.
It bugs me how poorly tube amps actually "measure", but with audio I think the science just isn't there, it involves measuring perception its much more complicated the eyesight/video.
One thing I notice reading this thread is the only technical argument given in favor of tubes is the triode is more linear than a transistor yet nearly every post is about loving the sound of a pentode p-p:scratch2:
Its the iron on the output that makes tube amps sound so good. They cut the crud out and make music.
And unless you are lucky and find an old classic amp in need of repair you will spend big bucks to get a modern amp with iron that sounds as good as the golden age. But buying iron is almost an investment as you all discover, unlike tubes the iron last for ever.
I'm 42 and look at this differently. The expense isn't the tubes, great sound isn't from expensive tubes, its all about the iron. Take the iron from a $40k tube amp and anyone can build an amp with that iron that sounds as good for a few hundred bucks.
It bugs me how poorly tube amps actually "measure", but with audio I think the science just isn't there, it involves measuring perception its much more complicated the eyesight/video.
One thing I notice reading this thread is the only technical argument given in favor of tubes is the triode is more linear than a transistor yet nearly every post is about loving the sound of a pentode p-p:scratch2:
Its the iron on the output that makes tube amps sound so good. They cut the crud out and make music.
And unless you are lucky and find an old classic amp in need of repair you will spend big bucks to get a modern amp with iron that sounds as good as the golden age. But buying iron is almost an investment as you all discover, unlike tubes the iron last for ever.
IMO It's the whole thing, circuit design, layout and parts choice...............the transformers are just parts among a number.I'm 42 and look at this differently. The expense isn't the tubes, great sound isn't from expensive tubes, its all about the iron. Take the iron from a $40k tube amp and anyone can build an amp with that iron that sounds as good for a few hundred bucks.
It bugs me how poorly tube amps actually "measure", but with audio I think the science just isn't there, it involves measuring perception its much more complicated the eyesight/video.
One thing I notice reading this thread is the only technical argument given in favor of tubes is the triode is more linear than a transistor yet nearly every post is about loving the sound of a pentode p-p:scratch2:
Its the iron on the output that makes tube amps sound so good. They cut the crud out and make music.
And unless you are lucky and find an old classic amp in need of repair you will spend big bucks to get a modern amp with iron that sounds as good as the golden age. But buying iron is almost an investment as you all discover, unlike tubes the iron last for ever.
Well, I guess that leaves more for the rest of us.