AudiogoN Forums: Can tubes ever be as quiet Solid State

Can tubes ever be as quiet Solid State

Recently I have had a major frame shift in my view regarding new production tubes which are getting to be pretty darned good over old tubes which still have marvelous sonic attributes but are often plagued by unwanted noises.This has resulted in my preferring certain current production over old stock more and more.
My question isn't are older tubes even NOS better than new production rather the question is are any tube systems able to match the noise floor of the quieter solid state amps? I was thinking in particular of gain stages in a phono stage. Opinions please

Mechans (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

06-11-08

Responses (1-22 of 22)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

06-11-08 Equivalent input noise is several orders of magnitude higher ... Shadorne

06-11-08 Its been my experience that mcintosh is extremely quiet...an ... Jaybo

06-11-08 I recently purchased a tube dac linestage the stock tubes ga ... Wavetrader

06-11-08 Imo, the answer is generally no, but there are exceptions. ... Tvad

06-11-08 The trick to getting tubes to be really quiet is the same th ... Atmasphere

06-11-08 Well designed modern tube products are as quiet as any solid ... Cwilliams

06-11-08 was it plugged in? i have not even heard ss that can do th ... Shadorne

06-11-08 My modwright swl9.0 line stage and swp9.0 phono stage are as ... Rockinrobin

06-11-08 Rowland capri ss preamp into audio mirror tubed power amps ... Macrojack

06-12-08 The days of nos tubes are gone. how many old shops and base ... Pbb

06-12-08 06-12-08: pbb the days of nos tubes are gone that's crap. ... Audiofeil

06-12-08 06-11-08: macrojack "rowland capri ss preamp into audi ... Dcstep

06-12-08 After all these years i've come to a love/hate relationship ... Vicdamone

06-12-08 Not so pathetic, vic. i find myself factoring convenience in ... Macrojack

06-12-08 Shardorne, you are completely incorrect to state that tubed ... Paulfolbrecht

06-12-08: Shadorne

you are completely incorrect to state that tubed pres cannot match solid-state for quietness.

Paul,

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that designers simply cannot work around these issues.

Let me rephrase: I guess anyone who has any experience in tubes as a component for use in amplification circuits will realize that there are in general (in the very broadest genralization sense) more noise issues (such as microphonics for example) than you get with solid state.

I reiterate what I stated above as proof that I agree with you: "I don't think it is a big issue - Manley make great tube amps that are extremely quiet - so do others."

Shadorne (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

06-12-08 Thanks for the clarification. though tubes as gain devices ... Paulfolbrecht

06-12-08 Presently there two 1940's tungsol jan ctl/vt-231 round plat ... Rodman99999

06-12-08 I had a bat 51se pre that was extremely quiet, but regardles ... Classical1

06-12-08 I thank all off you for your insight thoughts and experience ... Mechans

06-12-08 I have been told the solid state heed quasar phono is a grea ... Tvad

06-16-08 I'd love to know what conditions that measurement was taken ... Keneallyfan