This is a thread posted by Lloyd - just addressing some of the points on tube distortion
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showt...nd-transistors&p=294464&viewfull=1#post294464
In that thread, from Tomelex: "Its true that some tubes, for example, DHT type triodes, are the most linear amplifying devices commercially available (VMOS fets are very near as good but no longer made for general consumption, I think Nelson Pass had some made for him special at one point). The triode does have an internal feedback mechanism and that's why its so linear. The more linear a device is, the less IMD products occur,and that's IMO one of the big advantages of tube gear in general."
from DonH50: "My SP3a1 had extremely low distortion, lower than most SS gear back then and probably now (don't recall exactly but it was something like 0.001 ~ 0.005 % at 1 or 2 Vrms output). It would also put out large voltage swings into a high-impedance load (10's of volts). The D79 was rated at 1 % or somthing like that but again it was very low up to clipping, at least into my Magnepans. Don't recall the SA-220's specs nor what I measured. I worked at a couple of audio stores back then, and consulted for a couple more, so had access to a lot more gear than now. Back then McIntosh were the amps with among the highest distortion into speaker loads by my measurements (and that of some others) but they were highly-regarded nonetheless."
A quotation from Thrax the manufacturer in a Mono and Stereo article:
"Why do we use triodes?
Audiophiles have been led to believe through published measurements at maximum output power and uneducated reviewers that single-ended triode amplifiers produce vast amounts of harmonic distortion. As a matter of fact triode vacuum tubes are by far the most linear amplifying devices in existence today. They produce the least amount of distortion, and that distortion is predominately second harmonic, which is the least obtrusive type for the sound. By contrast, pentodes produce greater distortion, and the third harmonic tends to dominate. A transistor looks at best like a very bad pentode."
(http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/06...er-and_24.html)
From Atmasphere: Triodes are indeed some of the most linear devices around, and as Don points out, so are some of the MOSFETs and FETs. The high distortion of an SET is something that really should not be experienced if set up right (if you will pardon the pun- 'set' up right??)... which most are not. You really are not hearing what an SET does unless the speaker has enough efficiency to prevent you from ever needing more than about 20% of full power. This really keeps the distortion and especially the higher orders in check!"
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showt...nd-transistors&p=294464&viewfull=1#post294464
In that thread, from Tomelex: "Its true that some tubes, for example, DHT type triodes, are the most linear amplifying devices commercially available (VMOS fets are very near as good but no longer made for general consumption, I think Nelson Pass had some made for him special at one point). The triode does have an internal feedback mechanism and that's why its so linear. The more linear a device is, the less IMD products occur,and that's IMO one of the big advantages of tube gear in general."
from DonH50: "My SP3a1 had extremely low distortion, lower than most SS gear back then and probably now (don't recall exactly but it was something like 0.001 ~ 0.005 % at 1 or 2 Vrms output). It would also put out large voltage swings into a high-impedance load (10's of volts). The D79 was rated at 1 % or somthing like that but again it was very low up to clipping, at least into my Magnepans. Don't recall the SA-220's specs nor what I measured. I worked at a couple of audio stores back then, and consulted for a couple more, so had access to a lot more gear than now. Back then McIntosh were the amps with among the highest distortion into speaker loads by my measurements (and that of some others) but they were highly-regarded nonetheless."
A quotation from Thrax the manufacturer in a Mono and Stereo article:
"Why do we use triodes?
Audiophiles have been led to believe through published measurements at maximum output power and uneducated reviewers that single-ended triode amplifiers produce vast amounts of harmonic distortion. As a matter of fact triode vacuum tubes are by far the most linear amplifying devices in existence today. They produce the least amount of distortion, and that distortion is predominately second harmonic, which is the least obtrusive type for the sound. By contrast, pentodes produce greater distortion, and the third harmonic tends to dominate. A transistor looks at best like a very bad pentode."
(http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/06...er-and_24.html)
From Atmasphere: Triodes are indeed some of the most linear devices around, and as Don points out, so are some of the MOSFETs and FETs. The high distortion of an SET is something that really should not be experienced if set up right (if you will pardon the pun- 'set' up right??)... which most are not. You really are not hearing what an SET does unless the speaker has enough efficiency to prevent you from ever needing more than about 20% of full power. This really keeps the distortion and especially the higher orders in check!"
