Many moons ago I submitted a post regarding my experiences at Bristol. I mentioned something about the number of demonstrators who were using amplifiers with massive valves in their systems. Someone (can't remember who) said they didn't regard valve amps as audiophile as the valves coloured the audio signal. I took this statement onboard.
However, through my DIY cobbling (see here, I have recently discovered the world of OpAmp rolling and the effect that different OpAmps can have on the resulting sound of the amplifier. Clearly, OpAmps do colour the audio signal.
How that I have completed my first DIY project, I am considering what to build next. This will probably be the M3 by AMB Labs (see here). However, I quite fancy having a go at a valve amp.
What's your view on valve amps? Should they be consigned to history...or do they have a part to play audio equipment?
Note: for those who are interested, the way round the OpAmp colouration issue is to use an amplifier which is not based on integrated circuits ie fully discrete. These tend to be more complex and expensive designs. For a DIY example, again by AMB Labs, see the Beta 22 here.
However, through my DIY cobbling (see here, I have recently discovered the world of OpAmp rolling and the effect that different OpAmps can have on the resulting sound of the amplifier. Clearly, OpAmps do colour the audio signal.
How that I have completed my first DIY project, I am considering what to build next. This will probably be the M3 by AMB Labs (see here). However, I quite fancy having a go at a valve amp.
What's your view on valve amps? Should they be consigned to history...or do they have a part to play audio equipment?
Note: for those who are interested, the way round the OpAmp colouration issue is to use an amplifier which is not based on integrated circuits ie fully discrete. These tend to be more complex and expensive designs. For a DIY example, again by AMB Labs, see the Beta 22 here.