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NavyBass · 03-13-2005, 05:55 PM

First off, let me start by saying that neither one is better than the other. It's all personal preference.

Tube Amps; These are amps that use all tubes in the preamp and power amp sections. A preamp and power amp tube (or valve) is an electronic device that takes a signal and amplifies it. Pre amp tubes amplify the signal to a level used by the power amp tube. The power amp tube amplifies the signal so it can be fed to a speaker and heard by millions. They require an output transformer to match the impedance of the output of the tube to the speaker impedance. Depending on the wattage, these can be big and heavy.

In order to work, tubes have to be heated so the electrons move and amplify. I'm not going to get to technical here.

Sound...Tube amps tend to have a warm sound and yield a sweet distortion when they distort.

Disadvantages...Heavy, Use more electricity, Tubes need to be replaced and are expensive, More susceptable to the elements (never turn on a tube amp right after it came in from the cold), More fragile (tubes don't like to be banged around.

Solid State; These are amps that use transistors to amplify the sound. They don't require the output transformer and extra heater circuitry that tube amps need. This means that they are usually lighter for the same power output. A transistor does pretty much the same thing a tube does. It takes a signal and amplifies it. It just does it in a different way. They tend to be more reliable than tube amps and can take more abuse. They also use less electricity to yield the same power output.

Sound...Most solid state amps tend to have a more HiFi sterile sound and need a more complex tone circuit. Some companies use Field Effect Transistors (FET) in the power amp stages. These tend to give a more tube amp sound since a FET amplifies in a way similar to a tube amp.

Disadvantages....No user servicable parts. Harsher distortion (when they do distort)

Hybrid Amps; These are a combination of tubes and solid state circuitry. Usually they have a tube preamp and a solid state power amp sections. This way you get the warm sound of a tube amp with the reliability of solid state amps.

I hope this helps a bit.

03-13-2005, 05:55 PM	#1
NavyBass Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,197	Solid state and tube amps First off, let me start by saying that neither one is better than the other. It's all personal preference. Tube Amps; These are amps that use all tubes in the preamp and power amp sections. A preamp and power amp tube (or valve) is an electronic device that takes a signal and amplifies it. Pre amp tubes amplify the signal to a level used by the power amp tube. The power amp tube amplifies the signal so it can be fed to a speaker and heard by millions. They require an output transformer to match the impedance of the output of the tube to the speaker impedance. Depending on the wattage, these can be big and heavy. In order to work, tubes have to be heated so the electrons move and amplify. I'm not going to get to technical here. Sound...Tube amps tend to have a warm sound and yield a sweet distortion when they distort. Disadvantages...Heavy, Use more electricity, Tubes need to be replaced and are expensive, More susceptable to the elements (never turn on a tube amp right after it came in from the cold), More fragile (tubes don't like to be banged around. Solid State; These are amps that use transistors to amplify the sound. They don't require the output transformer and extra heater circuitry that tube amps need. This means that they are usually lighter for the same power output. A transistor does pretty much the same thing a tube does. It takes a signal and amplifies it. It just does it in a different way. They tend to be more reliable than tube amps and can take more abuse. They also use less electricity to yield the same power output. Sound...Most solid state amps tend to have a more HiFi sterile sound and need a more complex tone circuit. Some companies use Field Effect Transistors (FET) in the power amp stages. These tend to give a more tube amp sound since a FET amplifies in a way similar to a tube amp. Disadvantages....No user servicable parts. Harsher distortion (when they do distort) Hybrid Amps; These are a combination of tubes and solid state circuitry. Usually they have a tube preamp and a solid state power amp sections. This way you get the warm sound of a tube amp with the reliability of solid state amps. I hope this helps a bit.