22 years later vacuum tubes still available...

[arigram]

Thank you for the explanation.
Can I get a cheap amplifier for my small living room or are they only for the "audiophiles" with deep pockets?

[Steve Smith]

Vacuum tubes handle over-driving differently than solid-state devices. When a vacuum tube amplifier is driven to "clipping" it "clips" softly. When a solid-state amplifier is driven to clipping it clips abruptly with massive distortion. It is the soft-clipping that makes vacuum tubes more appealing to guitar players, as the distortion from overdriving can be controlled very well, and produce sound that guitar players like.

It is very similar to the way digital and film handle highlights.

The word 'distortion', though technically correct, unfortunately conjurs up the idea of a harsh rattly sound to the layman. Distortion really refers to any deviation from a linear response. In valve/tube terms, it is a slight deviation which can make it more pleasing to listen to..... And they look cool too!


Steve.

[David Brown]

Freaking crazy luddites.
Next they will be bringing sailboats, bicycles, brick stoves, analog clocks and classic guitars back!
They will stop at nothing to burn computers, turn the clock back and return us to the stone age!

As long as they leave us indoor plumbing and air conditioning, I'm good!

[KenM]

If you've got a few minutes to spare, check this out:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/200...ccum_tube.html

[Nicholas Lindan]

I can only hope that should film production cease by Kodak, other international manufacturers will continue to supply us with film.

My sentiments are quite other: I wish Kodak to continue and that all the small and largely incompetent suppliers go belly up at the soonest opportunity. In my book the quality of product from small film producers is awful.

I am not sure the analogy holds: it doesn't take much technology to make an audio/receiving vacuum tube; the appeal of vacuum audio isn't performance but rather the lack thereof - the cyanotype of the electronics world, as it were.

[ic-racer]

It is very similar to the way digital and film handle highlights.

Excellent example!

[ic-racer]

My sentiments are quite other: I wish Kodak to continue and that all the small and largely incompetent suppliers go belly up at the soonest opportunity. In my book the quality of product from small film producers is awful.

I am not sure the analogy holds: it doesn't take much technology to make an audio/receiving vacuum tube; the appeal of vacuum audio isn't performance but rather the lack thereof - the cyanotype of the electronics world, as it were.

I suspect it is easier to make a light sensitive emulsion. Here is an example of a guy that makes vacuum tubes. Seems like a lot of equipment is needed compared to home-made film. http://dailymotion.alice.it/video/x3...pe-triode_tech

[Kirk Keyes]

Thank God for the Soviet Union.

And having tried to home-make film, I figured it's easier to make vacuum tubes at home...

[Paul Goutiere]

The only thing I have left from the tube days is a "Williamson" designed mono amplifier. It weighs in at about 40 lbs and will produce about 20 watts of audio.

I began with tubes, (as a electronics tech) and still like the concept of the simplicity of the tube amplifier designs. I'm of an age where trying to discern the sound "quality" of tube or solid state would be ridiculous.
I cannot see where any well audio designed system, tube or solid state, would have any measurable advantage over the other, but I'll leave that discussion to others.

[Andrey]

Are there any tube systems left on the market which you can purchase new?

How much do they go for? I don't really know much about tubes, except that I liked the sound of a custom built setup my dad had a long time ago.