Transistors vs valves

[Shovel_Knight]

Reliability (although class A solid state amps are also known to have a lot of issues related to their thermals), costs (initial investment, regular valve replacement, electricity bills...), some people are just afraid because valve circuitry requires very high voltages, the valves are also a safety hazard if you have little children / pets etc.

[walpurgis]

Amplifiers that have a 'solid-state sound' or a 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them. A properly designed amp of either sort should impart no character of its own to the sound.

[Barry]

Amplifiers that have a 'solid-state sound' or a 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them. A properly designed amp of either sort should impart no character of its own to the sound.

Agreed.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Amplifiers that have a 'solid-state sound' or a 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them. A properly designed amp of either sort should impart no character of its own to the sound.

Hi Geoff
I think you need to affirm which type of amplifier you refer to, rather than referring to each as valve sound or solid state sound, as there are fundamental differences in how loudspeakers then
attached will perform if the amplifier is valve or if its solid state. http://education.lenardaudio.com/en/...ve_amps_7.html

The last part of your post though, is quite correct "each type should impart no character to the sound" But that's a big "should" , as listening to each type
invariably finds there are indeed differences.

[walpurgis]

Perhaps I should re-state my first line as 'Amplifiers that are percieved to have a 'solid state sound' or 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them'.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Perhaps I should re-state my first line as 'Amplifiers that are percieved to have a 'solid state sound' or 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them'.

That's much better, neither type should impart any character of its own, rather should just accurately amplify. Sadly that does not quite happen, but we remain in hope.

[Ninanina]

These days I don't really care if an amp is ss or valve as long as it sounds good to me... I reckon that's all that matters...

I guess I've gone full circle with amps... I used SET's of about 8w for years but now have a SS giving maybe 200w... and I love them both as long as they are used within their correct environment

[bumpy]

Amplifiers that have a 'solid-state sound' or a 'valve sound' do so because there's something wrong with them. A properly designed amp of either sort should impart no character of its own to the sound.

I'm not sure I can go along with this theory.

Are you saying that if money or expertise was NO object and you built the best valve and solid state amps that have ever been built on this planet then they would sound identical?

[Bigman80]

I'm not sure I can go along with this theory.

Are you saying that if money or expertise was NO object and you built the best valve and solid state amps that have ever been built on this planet then they would sound identical?

No, what Geoff is saying is that IF you were to build the best amplifiers you could, they wouldn't/shouldn't sound like a valve or a SS amplifier. Those sound types are characteristics of an amp. The better an amp is, the less of those stereotypical characteristics exists.

[Pepperamip]

How about the old marantz receivers 2215 2225 2245 (other 4 number variations available upon request) They had a valve type sound to them and still look good imo.

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