This Should Make Stereos Sound Better: Hybrid Tubes
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 8:41AM
Chances are if you're under a certain age you've never heard an amplifier powered by vacuum tubes. Tubes--or "valves," as the English say--were power-hungry, hot, delicate and temperamental. But they also offered a warmth that solid state technology couldn't provide.
But transistors and circuit boards are better when it comes to power consumption, reliablity and cost. They won the battle and rightly so. But tube amplification--in stereos and instrument amps--is still revered.
Samsung may have come up with a compromise. They've just announced something they call "hybrid tube technology," which (they say) combines the best audio qualities of tubes with the reliability of something more modern.
By combining the natural, rich sound of analog tubes with the power and efficiency of a digital amplifier, your music plays fuller ranges with no active induced clipping and nearly no distortion. Two greats, in perfect harmony — one incredibly natural sound.
The consumer electronics industry could use something like this. Let's see if it catches on. (Thanks to Rupinder for the news.)
Reader Comments (1)
Luxman did a few tube/hybrid amps in the 80s and 90s I believe. I have one, sounds amazing, lacks the hum of my newer tube stereo, but alas also lacks a little of the warmth. Tube technology, by the way, is alive and well in stereos, you just have to pay more generally, and yeah, replace the tubes every couple of years. No comparison sound wise.