Tube sound
Tube sound (or valve sound) is the sound produced by a vacuum tube-based audio amplifier. All amplifiers distort to some degree; some audiophiles prefer the sound produced by tube amplifiers. The reasons for the difference in sound between tube and solid state electronic devices is a continuing debate among audiophiles.
Tube Sound Media
Vacuum tubes glowing inside the preamp section of a modern guitar amplifier
Blackheart 5 W single-ended class-A guitar amplifier chassis with an additional GZ34 valve rectifier installed
Telefunken RS242 direct heated vacuum triode* * Cathode heater voltage: 3,8 V * Cathode heater current: 0,72 A * Emission current at 110 V: 0,3 A * Amplification factor: 17 * Transconductance: 3,0 mA/V * Capacitances:Grid–Cathode 3,5 pF*Anode–Cathode 3,0 pF*Anode–Grid 7,0 pF * Maximum anode voltage: 400 V * Maximum anode dissipation: 12 W * Typical anode current: 70 mA * Weight: 60 g
References
- Hamm, Russell O. Tubes Vs. Transistors: Is There An Audible Difference? in Journal of The Audio Engineering Society, presented September 14, 1972, at the 43rd Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, New York.
- Rosenberg, Harvey (2004). Understanding Tube Electronics II Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine.
- Santo, Brian. Volume cranked up in amp debate in Electronic Engineering Times, Issue 817, October 3, 1994.
