Vacuum Tube Technology Overview
The basic purpose of the audio amplifier is to increase the current, voltage or power of a signal and deliver the signal to the speakers. The three basic types of amplifiers are solid state, hybrid (utilizes tube and solid state) and vacuum tube. Each technology has its positives and negatives. Although the general operational characteristics of the three audio amplifier types are similar, there is a differential in the sound.
There are two basic designs of tube amplifiers. One design is the triode amplifier (also referred to as single ended or Class A) in which one vacuum tube (300B, 2A3) is used per channel to amplify the audio signal. Within the tube, a small signal is placed on the grid which causes a large fluctuation of voltage. Thus, the small amount of signal controls the larger power so that the signal is replicated at a larger level of energy. Another design is the push pull amplifier (Class AB). Rather than using one tube, the push pull amplifier uses more than one tube per channel. One tube will amplify the positive portion of the signal and the other tube will amplify the negative portion. The push pull design provides greater wattage than the single ended amplifier. This is a very simplified rendition of how a tube amplifier works. For the detailed technical operations of audio amplifiers, we recommend engineering web sites.
The basic purpose of the audio amplifier is to increase the current, voltage or power of a signal and deliver the signal to the speakers. The three basic types of amplifiers are solid state, hybrid (utilizes tube and solid state) and vacuum tube. Each technology has its positives and negatives. Although the general operational characteristics of the three audio amplifier types are similar, there is a differential in the sound.
There are two basic designs of tube amplifiers. One design is the triode amplifier (also referred to as single ended or Class A) in which one vacuum tube (300B, 2A3) is used per channel to amplify the audio signal. Within the tube, a small signal is placed on the grid which causes a large fluctuation of voltage. Thus, the small amount of signal controls the larger power so that the signal is replicated at a larger level of energy. Another design is the push pull amplifier (Class AB). Rather than using one tube, the push pull amplifier uses more than one tube per channel. One tube will amplify the positive portion of the signal and the other tube will amplify the negative portion. The push pull design provides greater wattage than the single ended amplifier. This is a very simplified rendition of how a tube amplifier works. For the detailed technical operations of audio amplifiers, we recommend engineering web sites.