Why are tube watts louder than transistor watts?
Watts are watts. But a tube amp with a certain wattage rating will likely be capable of producing louder, pleasing music than a solid state amp of equivalent wattage. For a more detailed explanation, check the technical FAQ. “When I was a kid, I saved up my money and bought a Silvertone 2×12 100W solid state amp to replace the little portable tube PA my Dad gave me to play through. The other guys in my band were using a silverface Bassman and Bandmaster. My Silvertone could get pretty loud, but when push came to shove, the lower-powered Fenders came through, but my Silvertone sounded thin and weak, even when cranked up. When I asked my Dad (one of the top electronics techs I’ve ever known) his simplified explanation was that tubes and transistors amplified different sets of harmonics. I later learned that he was pretty much right on the money. The “experts” can argue all they want, but I maintain that the primary difference in the sound quality between tubes and transistors is the sim
Watts are watts. But a tube amp with a certain wattage rating will likely be capable of producing louder, more pleasing music than a solid state amp of equivalent wattage. Watts RMS indicates how much a particular AC signal can generate, regardless of the shape of the wave. If you look at any audio amp’s output rating, it will indicate X watts at Y-frequency with no more than Z% distortion (probably across a certain frequency range). Once you hit the limits of the amplifier, driving it past that point results in rapidly increasing distorion as the circuit begins to clip. What is different about tube amps is the quality of the distortion is not as aesthetically displeasing as the quality of distortion in a transistor amp pushed to the brink. Also, in many tube circuits, the rate of distortion increase is not very steep, but gradual. In many solid-state circuits, the distortion is like a cliff, you reach a point and you cross the line and the circuits distortion increases dramatically. T
Watts are watts. But a tube amp with a certain wattage rating will likely be capable of producing louder, pleasing music than a solid state amp of equivalent wattage. Here’s an example from a good friend of mine. “When I was a kid, I saved up my money and bought a Silvertone 2×12 100W solid state amp to replace the little portable tube PA my Dad gave me to play through. The other guys in my band were using a silverface Bassman and Bandmaster. My Silvertone could get pretty loud, but when push came to shove, the lower-powered Fenders came through, but my Silvertone sounded thin and weak, even when cranked up. When I asked my Dad, who was a top electronics tech himself, his simplified explanation was that tubes and transistors amplified different sets of harmonics. I later learned that he was pretty much right on the money”. The “experts” can argue all they want, but I maintain that the primary difference in the sound quality between tubes and transistors is the simple fact that tubes m
… But a tube amp with a certain wattage rating will … difference in the sound quality between tubes and transistors is the … with the rich tonality of the tube amps. … (alt.guitar.amps) • Re: New Oscillator … The glass of the tube is Pyrex it should be a non-conductor and will not get … transistors get warm but warmer with the tube in place. … I just need more power. … I’m hoping to obtain 36 watt. … (sci.physics.
