Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site

My mind turned back recently to the subject of tube tuners – there were some even that made it happen. I have to admit that I have general difficulties with tube tuners. My past experience with then was not so great.

When we are talking about quality of tuners we imply two not necessary related characteristics: the quality of reception and quality of sound. It is unquestionably that there are a few purely technical arguments why it is possible to get superior quality of reception with tubes: higher impedance, lower intermodulations, better resistance to overload, lower noise with small signal and many others reasons. (At least what we are looking at the SS devised in 1970 when all SS tuner were made) However, when we are taking about the quality of sound then the advances in reception not necessary reflect itself in better quality, and in my experience most of the tube tunes do not sound right. Do not give me those Mac, Heathkit, Fisher, Leak, Maranz, Scott, and many others - the Sansui TU-X1 will eat then in breakfast in term of sound quality.

So, if the tube-made front ends, mixers and IM sectors might be superior with tube tuners then why it does not always lead to better sound? I do not know. One of the explanation might be that the tube tuners were made 50 years ago, what the quietly of build was very much different then we have today and the superiorly destined tube tuner were not just built as good as then might? Well, I would like to see in such case a contemporary rebuild of good tube topology.

There is another problem that I have with tube tuners – people. It is kind of hard to generalize but commonly the people who use tube tuners are kind of strange folks. It is impossible to talk to them about sound of tuner as then ether dive into pissing contest or they dive into hysteria about their tube tuners – both of the behaviors are equity contra-productive and non-informative. It is not to mention that most of the people who love to talk about the “stupendous bass” and “endless depth” from their Maranz 10B or REL Precedent in the end turn out are listening bookshelf mini-monitors, or use Sony receiver driving their “full range” ESL-57 or juts live in the regions where there is nothing but rock stations. I do not mean to discredit others but I was looking the opinion that would be based upon worthy and sane experience projected to more or less evolved level of demands. I did not see a whole lot of it in tuber tuner world.

So, being comfortable with my SS tuners I still have my mind open for tube tuners. I do not know what to expect. I use to bring home a few tube tuners but they were borrowed tuners and I did nothing with them beside just plug-in them in and out. The sound was not good but it does not mean that it would be the same if to “work” on the subject.

So, if any of my site readers around Boston who have from your point of view a seriously sounding tube tuner would like to lend me your tube tuners, perhaps with you in presents, then I would be very opened to this opportunity. It might be an educational experiment as I think I do have a quite reasonable performance of SS tuners in my listening room. It is a standing offer; contact me directly for further arrangements.

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site