Questions on tube amps

Dear Dr. Jon Wong,

My questions are about tube amp. Is it true that tube amp can't handle fast music/songs (eg. Michael Jackson Dangerous album)? They will sound slow and flat when played. How true is it? Secondly, what's the life span of each individual tubes based on 6 hours of daily usage? Thanks.

Alan Teo

Hello Alan!

Tube amplifiers are not slow if you match them properly with the speakers. If you use a very low efficiency spakers, power hungry speaker and a limited power amplifier (like 25 Watts), then you will have problem.

If you use very high efficiency speakers, then there is no problem with the valve amplifiers. However, do not expect the punches and transients like those from good transistor amplifiers.

The transparent sound from valve amplifier is unmatched by many good transistor amplifiers.

Under the conditions you listed, and also if the amplifier is working in an air conditioned room, they should easily last for about two years for good performances.

If you are having TUBE PHOBIA, why not you start off with a tube pre-amp and a transistor/mosfet power amplifier?

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