On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 03:22:50 -0700, Greg Pierce
wrote:

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 09:56:05 +0000, the highly esteemed Stewart Pinkerton
enlightened us with these pearls of wisdom:

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 02:10:16 -0700, Greg Pierce
wrote:

On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 16:24:19 -0400, the highly esteemed Sugarite
enlightened us with these pearls of wisdom:

Well, when I use a tube (or transistor for that matter) in anything other
than a guitar amplifier, I make damn sure that it doesn't saturate. If the
mastering engineer in question is using a tube stage which is designed
to saturate (and cause distortion), then that is an effect, NOT
amplification (and a very dubious practice, IMO). A true preamp should
NEVER run its amplifying devices anywhere near that point.

Actually, that's always been the reason that I *like* tube preamps,
because they generally have very high overload margins and get nowhere
*near* saturation! I've no idea where this clown has got hold of a
tube preamp which *typically* goes into saturation - maybe he runs it
off a PP3? :-)

Whats a PP3? insert puzzled look here

Darn, it's no good when you have to *explain* your joke! A PP3 is a
small 9-volt battery. Less common now than it was, but still
available. Running a tube off a low enough rail will certainly force
it into saturation, even in a preamp.

Anyway, saying tubes are "colored" is just like saying "all solid-state
sounds bad" - both statements are equally absurd and untrue.

Quite so.


To me, it sounds as though you believe that tubes intristically cause
coloration - a few minutes with a proper model and a SPICE simulator
will quickly set you straight. Better yet, listen to some correctly
designed and built gear...

Engineering excellence doesn't seem to be his bag...............
Obviously not. It sounds like he has experience with one of those tube
"preamps" designed to give that "tube sound". You know, the ones that
run a 12AX7 with 24V (or less) on the plate.....

Yes, exactly my point above (sigh). :-)
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering