My dad owned and operated an electronics repair shop in Brooklyn and was a very strong proponent of tube equipment, mostly because of the ease to repair it ... replace a tube versus attempting to repair a printed board. I have been around tube gear all my life. My first tube systems were strictly hobbyist set-ups. Two that I remember were:
1. a Philco (before being acquired by Ford) tube amplifier and a Voice of Music turntable (crystal cartridge)
2. a Grundig tube amplifier with a Garrard turntable (crystal cartridge)
Speakers were homemade infinite baffle designs with Alnico speakers that my dad had available.
When I started working, I purchased solid state equipment and did not return to tubes until 4 years ago, when I purchased two Prima Luna tube amplifiers.
With all that said, what I liked best about the 50's/60's tube sound was the richness and immediacy of vocals. The sound always had presence. I don't remember being too concerned about accuracy per se, because there was a smoothness to the sound ... music just sounded good, regardless of the type of music. I had no problems using tone controls to even out the sound, that was what they were there for.
Then, I became an educated listener. I trusted wholeheartedly what EPI speakers was saying about not using tone controls and listening for linear sound. Thing is though, I was not always thrilled with the sound coming from my systems. Part of this was changing over from vinyl to CDs, though I was happy to be rid of pops & clicks. The big thing though, I was not getting the richness and warmth from solid state that I had gotten from tubes.
A few years back, I purchased two Prima Luna products ... the PL2 integrated and the PL5 power amp. I got back the richness of sound and almost holographic imaging that I had 35 years previously. What was different was the accuracy of the new tube amps ...they were almost as accurate as any good solid state amp that I had owned. The sound was not only immediate, but instruments were more distinct. Granted, I have comparatively way better speakers and source components than back in the day. But I don't remember the music coming from any amp in my dad's shop, sounding this clear and clean or the background sounding so quiet.
As an aside, I would accept on the face of it, when reviewers would say that a solid state amp sounded tube like. Not really. Even the most tube like sounding solid state amp does not sound like a tube amp.
To answer Mr. Tennis' question ... I prefer the tube sound of today. It is an improvement of what I remember from the older tube amps.
Best regards,
Rich
