Why is solid state more popular when tubes are better?


Yes tubes are more involved and require periodic maintenance. Hybrid tube components need not apply, these are really solid state.

Tubes are better for multiple reasons and yet the world and the trade prefers solid state. Those rare audio shops that are geared toward stereo listening and serious connoisseurs tend to Focus more on tubes.  Those in business who like to improve volumes tend to offer solid state.  All the YouTube channels looking to improve their business tend to be solid state.  Maybe because tubes require much more expertise to sell, and there's lesser and lesser to go around. Solid state is more of a fast food commodity.

Tubes are difficult for businesses due to all the maintenance and complexity so you see it less often. Much much easier to sell hybrids or solid state.

 

 

emergingsoul

I just read atmasphere interesting post about class D amplifiers...

very interesting... Thanks... I did not know but coming from the designer mouth it is to be noted..

 

But it take a high qualified designer i imagine to put class D over tube amp... Not any class D design will do... Everybody working class D is not atmasphere... 😊

 

 

This is why tubes are still around- they obey human hearing rules better.

Until recently.

There are now class D amplifiers that can deliver all the musicality that used to be exclusively the domain of tube amplifiers. Because of that I really think tube power is on borrowed time. When people find out the first statement of this paragraph is true, they will be wondering why they have to seek special tubes to make their amp really sing and then deal with the simple fact that a little ways down the road they will have to do it again. They will also wonder why they are dealing with the weight, size, heat and the simple fact that tube power is expensive.

I owned small tubed components for the last two or three decades… preamps and CD players.


I hesitated on tube am[s) for decades entirely because the fact you had to replace tubes (occationally)… I was purchasing at the very edge of my financial ability, and the need to bias. I wanted 100% reliability for my purchase.

 

Well, I am now sorry that I had hesitated. The characteristics of tube amps far outweigh the over emphasized down side. Also, my amp has auto biasing and slow startup, extending tube like and increasing reliability. 
 

It seems and i know that Alas! i did not have the money to buy proper tube amplification ...

Even class D amplification well designed will cost too much compared to my Sansui alpha to try one...

I can imagine at which level of musicality they could go if atmasphere himself  vouch for them over his own tubes amp design ...

I will be sad and desesperate if i was not already happy with what i own .. 😊

but i dream anyway to be able to afford one in the future...I will read about class D...

 

I have been watching with growing interest in class D developments and must say I am getting really interested but it would take a very good amp indeed ( class D tubed or otherwise ) to make me give up my Gryphon Diablo 300 !!!!

You are out of my league... Ask atmasphere... 😊

I am interested by his answer...