Empeg - Tube Amp integration?

Posted by: cushman

Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 11:09

So who will be the first to install this with an Empeg?



Link to store where you can buy it
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 11:59

Well, you can already get tube-based car audio amps. Just harder to see the actual valve than having it presented on your dash.
Posted by: cushman

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 12:08

Or the old school analog level meters! Those look like they came out of a reel-to-reel.
Posted by: mlord

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 12:11

I'm betting the tube is completely ornamental -- not actually part of the output chain. Sure does look pretty (retro), though.

Cheers
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 13:50

I remember someone linking to this product about two years ago (ie, this is way-old news). I don't recall if the tube was part of the output stage or not....
Posted by: tman

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 14:35

Quote:
I'm betting the tube is completely ornamental -- not actually part of the output chain. Sure does look pretty (retro), though.

The tube is used in a preamp stage.
Posted by: mlord

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 14:49

Yeah, they probably use it as part of a power supply for something relatively minor, entrusting sound quality (where it matters) only to solid state chips and the like. I don't think tubes would be my first choice in a (electrically) noisey car environment, but hey..

Cheers
Posted by: tman

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 14:56

Quote:
Yeah, they probably use it as part of a power supply for something relatively minor, entrusting sound quality (where it matters) only to solid state chips and the like. I don't think tubes would be my first choice in a (electrically) noisey car environment, but hey..

It really is part of the audio path. Alledgely you can tell when it's on because everything sounds "warmer". There is an AOpen motherboard with a tube doing similar things as well.

There is an option to bypass the tube. I guess you'll need that for when the tube has killed itself because it's been bounced around too much...
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 20:27

Alledgely you can tell when it's on because everything sounds "warmer".[snip] There is an option to bypass the tube

Bypass... as in when you are tired of the tube-caused distortion that provides the "warmer" sound...

Maybe I'm just an anarchist at heart or something, but I'll take accuracy over the false warmth provided by tube amps. Besides, if I want more warmth, I'll just press the rocker switch that runs the motorizied voltage splitter that controls the input level of the amp that drives my 6.5" door speakers and bring the output of that amp up a bit (leaving the other four amps alone) and presto! More warmth. More brightness? Do the same thing with the switch for the center channel amp that drives a 4" coaxial speaker with titanium dome tweeter.

See attached .gif file for a signal path diagram of my system.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 20:39

Hunh! What happened to my attachment.

Let's try this again....


Yes, that's better. Click on the picture to get the button that lets you expand it to full size so it looks pretty....

tanstaafl.
Posted by: rob

Re: Empeg - Tube Amp integration? - 22/06/2005 22:15

Quote:
Bypass... as in when you are tired of the tube-caused distortion that provides the "warmer" sound...

I'd say that tube amps do have their place in high end audio - specifically in systems which are fundamentally likely to be over driven, such as guitar amps, or in systems where a flat clip is particularly bad news for the drivers. Tubes are far more musical in distortion than solid state amps. You can try to emulate this with soft knee compression but it's not the same.

Rob