Tube Stereo Amp FAQ
Tube stereo amplifiers had their heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, before the advent of transistor-based (solid state) amplifiers. Since then, solid state gear has largely replaced tube equipment, being cheaper to manufacture for the masses and offering conveniences and extras that tube amps can't match. But stereo tube amps are still being made by high-end audio manufacturers for enthusiasts who believe that tubes are the most musical and natural sounding amps of all. If you want to know more about stereo tube amps, here are six common questions and answers.
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What are Tubes?
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An assortment of different tubes Tubes--also known as valves--are vacuum-pumped glass bulbs containing several electrodes and wires that work together to provide electric current, or wattage, to an incoming sound signal. Main tube components include the grid, cathode, plate and heater.
What Do Tubes Sound Like?
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Tube amp aficionados often use the terms "warm" or "analog-like" to describe the sound of tubes. Tube stereo amps are particularly good at reproducing mid-range and lower treble frequencies, with rich and smooth transparency. Compared to solid state amps, tube amps are generally lower powered units and can't pump out low-range bass with the same punch and precision as transistors. Solid-state amps, on the other hand, can be shrill and unpleasant in the upper ranges where tube amps excel.
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What is Biasing?
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Biasing is a means of adjusting the current that runs through a tube by applying a negative voltage between the tube's grid and cathode. Every stereo tube amplifier has a bias setting designed for optimal sound performance and to ensure the life of a tube. Occasional bias adjustment is necessary for a tube amp's health.
How Long Do Tubes Last?
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Tubes can last surprisingly long. A typical power amp tube should provide anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 hours of service. Replacing a spent tube is as easy as changing a light bulb.
Don't Tube Amplifiers Run Very Hot?
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Many tube amplifiers become warm enough during operation to burn skin if accidentally touched. As such, most stereo tube amplifiers are fitted with a protective cage that can be removed for replacing tubes and other maintenance.
What is Tube Rolling?
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Tube rolling is one of the best parts of owning a tube stereo amp. Rolling is a term for replacing stock tubes with another tube type of same size but different design. Each tube has its own sonic character, and the sound of tube amps can be tweaked and upgraded indefinitely to find just the right mix of bass, mid-range and treble.
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References
- Photo Credit Amplifier image by Mladenov from Fotolia.com old vacuum tubes image by Dmitry Rukhlenko from Fotolia.com
