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A famous hi-fi audio designer invited some "golden ears" to do some blind A/B testing with a solid state amp he had designed and some famous "musical" tube amplifiers;
with a screwdriver he altered his amp to mimic the famous and costly amps, the "golden ears" were unable to identify when the solid state amp was engaged.
Nevertheless,
Tube amplification for hi-fi and guitar amplification has many supporters and there is a difference. There are reproducible variances in the auditory chain that some listeners find more pleasing and some characteristics of tube guitar amplification that some players prefer.
Let your budget be your guide, a well designed ss amp will sound good, as will a (presently) more expensive tube amplifier.
There is an argument about sound being a never ending wave that pleases; while digitizing creates stairstep auditory spikes that our ears respond to with fatigue. The evidence may be anecdotal, but we are more sensitive than most instruments.
Tubes are ANALOG devices and they do not deal with just one byte at a time like DIGITAL does. They can handle - simultaneously - an unlimited number of frequencies at the same time (all at different volumes) and the interactions of those frequencies that generate even more sound (Harmonics - which are NOT generated in a digital chip - it has to be programmed in), while digital can only reproduce ONE piece of information at any time. And that is the volume (how fast that changes SIMULATES the frequency).
Digital is fast and they can REPRODUCE sounds that are good - no question. It is our ears that hear this sound and they are different from one person to the next. But by using test instruments the actual waveforms coming out of a Tube fed amp and those from a digital amp are quite different. (imagine waves on a beach being flat topped - blocks coming in o the beach - instead of complex and beautiful curved waves of water.)
So our ears may not able to distinguish one from another, in reality there is a big difference (and some people have ears good enough to hear this difference). This is not to say that digital is bad, the difference to our ears is not much. besides we don't all have screwdrivers and the knowledge on how to use them. LOL
PS: Even at the time in was argued that in the above example (which caused quite a stir for a long time) was with a professional home built - Solid State amplifier (using transistors and not digital chips like today) and that it had to be tuned by hand. It is a safe bet that mass produced - make it as quick & inexpensive as possible - amplifiers (even of that day) did not have the quality of the amplifier in the famous test.
What else can I help you with?
Do you need a tube amp for your distortion pedals to sound good?
Its not needed for it to sound good but a lot of people like the sound with the tubes. I play a small solid state combo at home which has a beautiful amp overdrive and when jamming with band mates i play a larger solid state combo, and use my Sovtek Big Muff Pi and still sound brilliant on solid or tube personally, some pedals and some amps sound better together but its all of ur own choice
Why do bass amps take long to turn on?
Not if they are solid state, just a few seconds. There are however a few Tube amps out there and they can take a minute or so too warm up. What model do you have?
What is the value of a Lab Series l-7 guitar amp?
Around $300 to $400 if the reverb and compressor are working and the amp is in fair condition. In terms of musical value to a guitarist looking for a tube-like sound in a solid state amp: priceless. Lab Series amps (which differ from one to another due to some inconsistencies in quality on the manufacturing end) are believed by many to be the best solid state amp ever made.
How many amps does a sound system use?
amps like.. amplifiers? it depends on how many speakers you have. or amps like.. current draw? again. depends on your power needs, your power amps... ect
Why use a guitarbass amplifier instead of going straight into the mixing board?
every guitar has a tone range. every effect pedal has a tone range. and thus, every amp has a tone range. amps can make a world of a difference in the overall tone of the guitar or bass. in the battle between solid state and tube amps, no solid state that I've heard, even comes close to the beauty of hot tubes.
Can you provide a detailed explanation of guitar amps and how they work?
Guitar amps are electronic devices that amplify the sound produced by an electric guitar. They work by taking the electrical signal from the guitar's pickups and increasing its voltage to drive a speaker, which then produces sound. The amp's circuitry includes components like tubes or transistors that shape the tone and volume of the sound. Different types of amps, such as tube amps or solid-state amps, produce varying tones and have different characteristics. Players can adjust settings like gain, tone, and volume on the amp to customize their sound.
Do you need a tube amp for your distortion pedals to sound good?
Its not needed for it to sound good but a lot of people like the sound with the tubes. I play a small solid state combo at home which has a beautiful amp overdrive and when jamming with band mates i play a larger solid state combo, and use my Sovtek Big Muff Pi and still sound brilliant on solid or tube personally, some pedals and some amps sound better together but its all of ur own choice
What does SS stand for in SSGuitar?
In SSGuitar, "SS" stands for "Solid State." This refers to the type of amplifier technology used, which relies on solid-state components like transistors, rather than vacuum tubes, to amplify the audio signal. Solid-state amplifiers are known for their reliability, durability, and typically more consistent sound quality compared to tube amps.
What are Behringer amps used for?
Behringer amps are electric guitar amplifiers. They are used to amplify the sound of the guitar. There are different models for bass guitar and lead guitar.
Why do bass amps take long to turn on?
Not if they are solid state, just a few seconds. There are however a few Tube amps out there and they can take a minute or so too warm up. What model do you have?
Can you use your combo amps line out to use the speaker on a different amp?
it may not sound great but why the heck not
How can I achieve a fuller and more dynamic sound by using two guitar amps simultaneously?
To achieve a fuller and more dynamic sound using two guitar amps simultaneously, you can connect both amps to your guitar using an A/B/Y switch or a mixer. This setup allows you to blend different tones and effects from each amp, creating a richer and more layered sound. Experiment with different settings and volumes on each amp to find the perfect balance for your desired sound.
How can I split a guitar signal to two amps for a more dynamic and versatile sound?
To split a guitar signal to two amps for a more dynamic sound, you can use a device called an ABY pedal. This pedal allows you to send your guitar signal to two different amplifiers simultaneously, giving you the ability to blend different tones and create a more versatile sound.
What is the amperage limit of 10 gauge solid wire?
Typically 30 amps.
How do you test a solid state relay?
A small light bulb is often used to test a solid state relay (SSR). That is because a SSR needs a minimum load of at least 0.1 amps in order to operate. Using a meter does not provide a sufficient load.
What do electric guitars need to be loud?
Amplifiers. Tube amps are the best and can easily out do a solid state, however they are often times more expensive for a good one.
Sound is measured in watts or amps?
Sound is actually measured in decibels (dB), which is a unit that quantifies the intensity of sound. Watts and amps are used to measure electrical power and current, respectively, and are not directly related to sound measurement.
