Solid Stete vs Tube Rectifier

[Pedro Vecino]

It is easier to throw all the assessments of people to the ocean, and think that is the same three than thirty three (This last they say in Spanish).
Do we understand the sound and quality of the amplifier as a musical instrument at the service of electronics, perhaps?
Taking the reverse semmed more complicated...
Someone who intends to establish the difference between the polystyrene and polycarbonate searching parámeters can easily dedicate his life to it. Or to put it aside, and attend to what your ears and playing will dictate. The same with any other component including rectifiers, capacitors, tubes, etc. in relation to the design.
Sound quality is never dependent on a single element. It is the sum of many small. Many times practically irrelevants valued individually. Therein lies the conflict.

[Old Tele man]

Advantage conceded

...ah, but resistors are LINEAR voltage-drops while vacuum rectifiers are EXPONENTIAL voltage-drops, ie: they are NOT the same "load" to changing current loads!

...why does this matter? because the human EAR is exponential, not linear, in response.

[tubeswell]

...ah, but resistors are LINEAR voltage-drops while vacuum rectifiers are EXPONENTIAL voltage-drops, ie: they are NOT the same "load" to changing current loads!

...why does this matter? because the human EAR is exponential, not linear, in response.

In that case I take it all back again (and say thanks)

[Merlinb]

...ah, but resistors are LINEAR voltage-drops while vacuum rectifiers are EXPONENTIAL voltage-drops, ie: they are NOT the same "load" to changing current loads!
...why does this matter? because the human EAR is exponential, not linear, in response.

I don't believe that makes any difference- the average resistance is what matters, and is utterly indistinguishable from a linear resistance. Only at very low currents does the rectifier resistance become significantly non-linear, and it spends almost no time in that region of conduction.

Also, an exponential resistance in the rectifier does not translate to an exponential change in SPL/compression etc, and has no special link with the human ear.

[Pedro Vecino]

Human ear, not. Human playing :-)
If not difference is perceived in the tactile sensation at playing can hardly be perceived by the ear. Same with a lot of components that influence it.
Regards

[melvin]

Whether purely aesthetic or not, the rectifier tube has its charm and I find it to be an elegant way of providing envelope to the response of an amp. I also find it depressing, sometimes, the timbre of these discussions...

(Although, they're usually quite entertaining and enlightening...)

[Chuck H]

I also find it depressing, sometimes, the timbre of these discussions...

If the mechanics of how a rectifier tube is not dissimilar to a blunt a$$ resistor is diseartening then your being too nostalgic. The most important thing is that we ARE learning and attempting preserve the tonal character of the golden age. Keep in mind that rectifier tubes were the only way before diodes. Now that we have new technology we no longer need them. Tubes are expensive to buy and even more expensive to implement in a design. I, for one, only use a resistor to make my product easier to build, service and reduce expense so more more players will have access to this tonal characteristic of older designs. So the fact that we CAN and actually WANT TO get the sounds that represent the past should be of some condolance. People have to be able to afford tube amps to be able to buy tube amps so that tubes amps can perpetuate. Capturing a classic tonal character in a more affordable way allows builders to do that and maintain a public aesthetic for these tonal qualities of older designs.

Chuck

[Robert M. Martinelli]

We've been talking about this before....

While it's true that the "voltage drop vs. current" curve in a tube rectifier is not linear, it's also true that, if you look at that curve, and draw the "best fit" line between the minimum and maximum current draw and the relevant voltage drops, you'll see the approximation is very close, so the difference between a real tube rectifier "sagging", and a "simulated" one built with a SS rectifier plus a series "best fit resistor" derived from the above points on the curve doing the same thing is indistiguishable to the human ear IMHO, as it's so little it can't affect dynamics to an audible extent.

JM2CW

Best regards

Bob

P.S. I can almost hear the die hard tube rectifier addicts gnashing their teeth.....

[Chuck H]

P.S. I can almost hear the die hard tube rectifier addicts gnashing their teeth.....

Well, some of them are actually just scraping two pieces of ivory together... But it sounds excactly the same

[Robert M. Martinelli]

Well, some of them are actually just scraping two pieces of ivory together... But it sounds excactly the same