Return of the 'valve'

[Estelle]

Looks like the dear old vacuum tube could make a return

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/05/return-of-the-vacuum-tube.html?ref=hp

Apparently the Russians made very small ones in the '70s for their planes as they would not be affected by radiation.

Ed: also from 'The Register'

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/24/nan_vacuum_tubes/

[Mallory Black]

cool!

[Pipeliner]

When I went to pick up my home theatre unit from the repairer he had a valve amplifier set on display in his showroom - they are still made and sold to descerning customers.

[Variflex]

Some of the audiophiles prefer Valve amplifiers due to the clarity they produce

[Estelle]

Some of the audiophiles prefer Valve amplifiers due to the clarity they produce

I've often wondered about that. Is it clarity or is it distortion and noise the valves introduce to the music.

Valves were notorious for the noise they produced - heating of the cathode (noise) and valve biasing (distortion). Introduced harmonics(not sure).

We had a TAFE teacher who said transistors were a passing fad. No idea if he was serious, but the fad maylast about 60 years or more.

[Mace]

For Audiophiles, they never really went away. Their tonal quality is much nicer.

I wish I still had one. I used to have an old Trio/Kenwood Receiver/Amp.

If you want loud music, transistors are the go.

If you appreciate the aucoustic properties, warmth,  resonance, tonal quality, get a valve amplifier if you can afford one.

Still waiting for my replacement Shure 97eX Cartridge I ordered a few weeks ago so I can get out some of my vinyl  discs mentioned in:

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=20891.msg322506#msg322506

Still wishing I hadnt sold my Thorens Turntable all those years ago.

 

[Riguez]

I've often wondered about that. Is it clarity or is it distortion and noise the valves introduce to the music.

Valves were notorious for the noise they produced - heating of the cathode (noise) and valve biasing (distortion). Introduced harmonics(not sure).

We had a TAFE teacher who said transistors were a passing fad. No idea if he was serious, but the fad maylast about 60 years or more.

Its the 'warmth' of the sound created by valve amps - bit like the difference between vinyl records and digital - vinyl has its own personality. So do valves. You've always been able to get valves, but its a niche audiophile market - along with 'horns' for speakers. But you need the ears to hear it - not all ears hear the same way because not all brains process sound in the same way - some people are more sensitive to the nuances of sound - and its not just being pretentious.

[ras]

I come at this from a muso perspective..
You still cant beat the beatiful warmth of a good valve amp, for either a clean sound or that warm tones of overdriven valves..
Next time you see a band/act, have a look at the gear on stage... For dinasaur/dodo technology, there sure is a lot of different brand valve amps out there... Digital modelling of these amps has been around for a while, but why settle for a good imitation, when you can have the real thing...
Ras

[noel_w]

Valve amps certainly can recreate some beautiful music. Along with the amp though you need some good input and digital music by definition can only take snapshots of the original recording albeit being 44100 16 bit samples per second for wav files. MP3 then takes away more of the original sound to compress the file size. What I am getting at is you cannot beat analog music from a good quality turntable, a good amp and good speakers.
I have a nice turntable I bought in the early 80's being a Technics SL120 with a Grace tonearm and Stanton cartridge. I haven't used it in ages as my old amp met it's maker but I plan to build a valve amp and some reference speakers in my retirement. I then plan to bring out my old vinyl and give it a clean and experience the 70's all over again with all the glorious pops, static & crackle that only vinyl can give you. I have already picked the speakers I plan on building.
http://speakerdesignworks.com/Statements.html
 
I have only ever had solid state amps but i have always lusted after valve amps. However could never afford them.
 
Am I an audio snob? No I can't afford to be......  But I wish. And I wish my ears were still as good as they once were. I am starting to suffer hearing loss from too much noise from motorbikes, tractors and shooting when I was young. Before we all knew about hearing protection.
Now where was my original 1972 Floyd Meddle LP that I have only ever played once.

[Mallory Black]

Valve amps are still the preferred weapon of choice for many guitar players for the reason of feel and depth.

Having said that it's amazing how their properties are being used by these researchers for next gen computing

[wholehog]

had an old valve amp for my fender strat......awesome warm tone from that old girl.....step on the "tube screamer"(Drives the amp into overdrive)and listen to her wail now.....
Ahhhh...out come the Hendrix and Steve Ray discs..............

[Mace]

Ahhhh...out come the Hendrix and Steve Ray discs..............

Have you got any Johnny Winter?? Another legend in my vinyl.

 

[wholehog]

Have you got any Johnny Winter?? Another legend in my vinyl.

 

Dont have any Johnny Winter in my collection but have heard his stufff
For memory he is the albino dudes thinks.....