Tube power vs solid state power

[teemuk]

If my argument were right, the peaks in the upper curve would disappear if he mashed the amp into clipping, assuming the frequency response could even be measured under those conditions.

No, they wouldn't disappear because the graph shows an overall gain in dB.

The output current's response graph, on the other hand, would be almost an inversion of that shown having notches instead of peaks.

And yes, I agree, there is a need for "power reserve" to produce the transient peaks. This reserve will reduce the amount of output power (at low % of THD) that can be extracted from the design. Similarly all soft clipping schemes will do that as well. Some amps are designed with that in mind, some are not.

[imaradiostar]

Fet version of the Marshall Superlead Plexi 40W Here, figure it out for yourself.

As far as I can tell, it's normal Class-AB. The guy developed a MOSFET building block that emulates a tube, and he uses one for each tube stage in the 1959SLP. It even has an output transformer.

He's either a genius or completely insane, or both.

That's pretty neat. The real question is if it really sounds like a tube amp!

jamie

[Steve Conner]

Well, there are sound samples on the site, you can listen and make your own mind up.

Unfortunately they're all metal played with a really metal sounding guitar.

[imaradiostar]

I listened to the clips the other day. It's hard to say if it sounds like a tube amp or not. It's definitely musically useful and sounds good for the kind of tones he was using.

jamie