So I get the question all the time “Why tubes?”. I usually answer something along the lines of “I just like them” but that really doesn’t sum it up that well. So I have been thinking about that very question; “Why tubes?”. After much contemplation, I think I have come up with one simple answer that sums up my feelings on the topic quite succinctly:
Why tubes?
Because vacuum tubes are like MOSFETs, but with class!
I like your quotes. I’ve got nothing more than basic E and basic circuit education, so I don’t have a really good reason for why tubes. First amp was a chip amp. It was great fun to build, but like you said, think tubes are classy and beautiful and even though I was born in ’73, I want to revive the golden age of hi-fi. When Fisher & JBL focused on quality and people were willing to make a serious investment in their home systems.
With tubes, because they are usually mounted on top, and glowing, it’s as if you can “see” them working to make the music. It almost gives them personality. It adds another element to the listening experience.
I like point to point wiring. Even though it may not have symmetry, I like to see the guts of my amp sitting on top of the chassis (trannys, chokes, pre, power & rectifier tubes). I like to be able to test or replace a tube or a capacitor easily. I like the satisfaction of a beautiful point to point wiring job. Wiring that is neat and tidy, that maybe no one will ever see. For an engineer, that is deeply satisfying. ha ha
Hard for me to say that my SE amp sounds way better than my Marantz. I do think that it sounds more “airy” and delicate. It seems to be able to separate the instruments better. Kind of how I would imagine an OB speaker to sound.
Thanks for the 4S pre amp project and sharing your stories about your 6V6 build.
Hi,Happy New Year！I like Matt’s work and articles as much as you do, and I have benefited a lot from it. I also like OB. I plan to use low-power SET to push mid-high frequencies and high-power (such as 6336) to push low frequencies below 300Hz. Hope there will be a good result.