posted
A basic valve amplifier (home stereo component, not a guitar amp) is around the same sort of price as a high end digital amplifier. But which is better?
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
posted
It's probably something you'd have to look at on a case by case basis - I don't think you could say for certain. It would also depend on what other components you're using with it, and it can also come down to personal preference. It's probably something you could only decide by listening to each of them yourself. What are the models you're looking at?
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
Here's a long and utterly incomprehensible article about which is 'best'. It has some diagrams. It may be worth learning a couple of paragraphs and then, whichever option you go for, reciting them at anyone who asks you why you didn't go for the other sort. Eventually they'll not and assme you made a wise and informed decision.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
Nothing specific at the moment. At the moment we're just using a pair of speakers linked to my PC playing songs downloaded from iTunes which is almost passable, but ultimately we're looking at a decent stereo system with some floor standing loudspeakers. I'd like to be able to have my xbox/playstation, etc, all connected to it, as well as a radio, CD deck, and maybe a turntable. Personally I'd probably be happy enough with a decent digital amp, which would surely be the best solution things like the playstation. Plus I'm not convinced I'd really be able to tell the difference with the quality of the speakers we'd be able to afford, and the bitrate of things like iTunes. But Reema seems set on a valve amplifier.
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
posted
Right - I think valve amp + iTunes is a bit deranged. I can't see how you're going to get any of the benefit there. In fact it's probably the case with any digital music source that a valve amp is going to be a bit limited. Hmm. I suppose it gives you a base from which to build up your stereo system: as you replace other components you'll start to reap the benefits of having a really good centrepiece, but you won't hear the benefits right away.
Personally, I'd be tempted to give all the components a kind of equal weighting in terms of what you spend; what sort of level they're at, but I can see why someone might want to put an awesome heart at the centre of their system, and then gradually build up the other components to match that. I think I'd find it frustrating, though.
The other thing that's worth thinking about is what kind of inputs you get on the back. Would a valve amp have the optical inputs for your Xbox and PS3, and room to spare for the CD, tuner, and itunes? You'd grow to hate the fucking thing if you had to unplug the CD player every time you wanted to play a game.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
I reckon it's a bit of a placebo thing to most people to be honest. She asserts that she used to have a valve amp* which was connected to her ex's PS3 (presumably with a ridiculously overpriced set of phono leads) and that the sound quality was absolutely amazing. But like you say, I can't see how the quality from a digital input could be improved over the quality of the sound source. What I think she means is that it had quite a warm, bright sound to it and it didn't suffer from hiss or distortion at low volumes. But I'm sure a decent transistor amplifier would be able to give this kind of sound. Especially since they were using some pretty unimpressive speakers. I reckon it all boils down to "I have a swanky valve amp, therefor everything sounds absolutely amazing". Hi-Fi Snobbery.
*If you want further proof that the guy was a total douche, he kept it on the floor with the cover off with the valves on display
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: What I think she means is that it had quite a warm, bright sound to it and it didn't suffer from hiss or distortion at low volumes. But I'm sure a decent transistor amplifier would be able to give this kind of sound.
Yeah... you definitely don't need a valve amp to get a good, punchy sound without distortion. I mean, there's a point at which any separates system sounds awesome. If you're used to a boombox or a mini-system, then your first reaction is bound to be "HOLY FUCK!!", so it'd be interesting to know what her pre douche-bag frame of reference was.
Of course, for all I know Reema's first ever stereo system was an Arcam amp and CD player hooked up to a pair of floorstanding Mission speakers, and therefore when she says the previous set up was amazing, she damn well means it. However, I'm sort of getting the impression that if you spent wisely, and spread the cost across all the components, you'd end up with something that sounded much better than the DoucheBag9000.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
I run my xbox through a Yamaha surround amp, and matching speakers - a package that I paid £179 for in Allders in Croydon. It's probably the best value anything that I've ever owned, and every time I turn it on I'm moved and amazed that it sounds so good and cost so little.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
Speakers are where to spend the money, and will make the bigest difference to the aceness of the sound. That's what I was always told, anyway. An average amp with ace speakers will sound better than an ace amp with average speakers.
I don't know anything about digital amps. I didn't even know they existed.
Posts: 7807
| IP: Logged
posted
i have a richer sounds bargain combo of some 'piece of shit' eltax monitor 3's and a rubbish cambridge audio thing. Sounds fine though.
Posts: 3821
| IP: Logged
posted
Listen to what Thorn is saying about an arcam amp and mission speakers. It really depends on what sort of system you go for, it's true, the valve amp being last in the chain will certainly give you a very warm and lush sound, but considering they don't come cheap you have to ask what the point is anyway. Considering you'll sit about 2 meters at the most away from it anyway, spending a lot of money on a valve amp seems a bit much really.
posted
Valve amps..? Yeah, buy a fucking valve amp! Then when your music is playing you can look at the valve amp, with it's valve, glowing, and you can point at it and say to yourself, "Look. Look, a valve. That's old. A valve on an amplifier. And it's mine." and rub your fucking belly and grin like a stupid fucking idiot.
posted
the only acceptable way to live life is inside a blank white cube, with just a toilet and a single tap for dispensing a food / water combination paste.
Posts: 3821
| IP: Logged
posted
anything else is just pampering towards an absurd set of received social aspirations, and should be rejected by anybody who wants to elevate their existence to being beyond that of a dumb, ego-crazed peacock. Why cloud the senses with all these trinkets and pleasures and sensations? They only prevent us from finding out what we really are.
quote:Originally posted by Kanye West: the only acceptable way to live life is inside a blank white cube, with just a toilet and a single tap for dispensing a food / water combination paste.
Oh, dear. Kanye's been brainwashed by marketing, YET AGAIN!
posted
I've had a good listen to both sorts of amps and, to be fair, I can't tell the difference, no matter how hard I try. A good quality amp, whether solid state or thermionic, sounds good - and a crap one sounds crap. I'm sure a professional sound engineer might be able to spot the "inherently more linear" valve output, but I reckon any regular person wouldn't be able to.
Having said that, I love valve amps. I like the technology, and the engineering, that sits behind them. Retro-tech as it may be, it is rather lovely to think of all those liberated electrons floating about in little vaccuum houses. Yeah, if I could afford it, I'd have my lipstick out, for sure.
If someone is making a valve amp, there's a pretty good chance they give a shit. I mean, take a look at this.
I'd love one of those. I think that's gorgeous. Doggy lipstick or not, I want that in my living room, just so I can look at it whilst idly playing with my winky. It does music too? Awesome.
Yes, it's all just engineering masturbation... but I'd be proud to own any of them.
As for running an iPod through a valve amp... well, I suppose one argument might be that you're putting "more linearity" into the chopped digital signal - but FFS, the source is a compressed mathematical file, and I don't think you'll be adding anything to the "music" whatever technology you use.
posted
He hasn't really given much thought to the placement of his listening chair, either. It's quite easy and cheap to put the chair in the optimum place. Seems a waste to spend all that money on the and then listen to your music with one ear jammed up against the left speaker like an amateur spy listening at the wall with a glass.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
posted
The other interesting thing about those speakers is that they reduce even the highest-fidelity recording to nothing more than the sound of a scratchy announcement barked across Reading station at 7.45 on a cold November morning.
Posts: 13758
| IP: Logged
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic