Valve Amp driven by Computer

RobM99

fwor said:

RobM99 said:

I've used valves in Marshall amps for years. Never had a problem with decent valves.

Sorry - I should have said that they are still widely used (mainly as single-instrument amps, I believe) by musicians , because of the way that they sound at higher loads - specifically they generate a different type of distortion than solid-state amps. But as far as I'm aware, most will use solid-state amps for the output to the main speakers after mixing?

Yes, because solid state just amplifies and doesn't colour the sound at all (in theory). Vocalists never use valve amp's - in my experience anyway. EL34 are the standard pre-amp valves, ECC83  for power stage. (Type).

Heedtheadvice

You have lots of good responses there.

An amp and good speakers correctly positioned (for the ones in use) will likely give you better sound...caveat you have not written what you currently use to reproduce the sound but the tv is assumed but if it is computer driven/cheap  computer type speakers , such as a PC or laptop rather than a computer specifically for quality sound output (rare) then the same is true.

It need not be a valve amp and I would suggest you steer away from that to a solid state amp for several reasons:

Cost, quality, life expectancy, better circuitry (for the money), efficiency (less heat produced and lower electricity consumption), availability/choice etc. It need not be an expensive amp. Budget amps, especially if one concentrates of quality rather than facilities, can be excellent and there is not much to be gained from an expensive one in terms of performance. Most electronics are producing excellent sound and most people can not tell the difference between a £100 one and a much more expensive one!

Speakers on the other hand, like all transducers, can make a big difference...when correctly sized for the room and positioned. Like written above small budget speakers can sound very good compared to older ones. If you have ever been happy listening to some modern Bluetooth or smart speakers rather than trying to improve on that just go for a cheapish pair but do try to hear them first (such as at a Richer Sounds demo) if paying greater than say £100.

Large speakers are not usually great in small rooms being fifficult to reproduce bass accurately without boominess. Having said that at home I even use some big and expensive B&W floor standing ones but that was to get uncoloured sound for reference purposes.  They would not always make pleasing sound for easy listening for most people and you probably want speakers that sound good on your typical listening material.

External digital to analogue converters can help get to the ultimate sound but many computer analogue sound outputs for headphones and external amplification can also be very good. Some variability but best to try it first. Even my £100 tablet gives very good results....from a good sound source! You will not need a 24 bit system. That (and better) is only really of benefit in recording, mixing and mastering in studio situations. Do not believe audiophile hype and nonsense like needing lots of gold connectors and oxygen free copper etc. etc. Certainly not MSE !!!

debitcardmayhem

All I can add is PC-->HDMI-->TV-->TV analogue out-->Amp,  is the TV to Analogue output will be the weak point. But I am in my seventies and I have experienced Valve Amps and Much later technologies and "Hi-Fi state of the art"  setups trust me your ears don't advance like technology does. Perhaps orange coloured cables for the power circuit are the way forward (you don't trip over them) . Yeah I am a cynic but the beauty or the sound is in the beholder.

victor2

Many many years ago I took electronic engineering at university and had a lecturer who swore by valves and openly said that transistors will never catch on. 

DullGreyGuy

flaneurs_lobster said:

In my day any suggestion that proper hi-fi speakers could be hung from a wall rather than be floor standing would have had you sneered at in the proper shops on Tottenham Court Road.

Has this technology now moved on? 

Very few of us live in houses perfectly made for audio and so there will always be some compromises. There are those that spend tens of thousands trying to overcome those compromises... just look at some of the Home Cinema builds on the AVForums.

There are some speakers that will respond better to wall mounting than others... anything rear ported is straightaway not going to get its best if its against or right next to a wall whereas front ported or sealed will be much happier.

Some of us go the next step... not my actual sitting room but same in wall speakers... for some odd reason they are missing the in ceiling speakers in this setup for the Atmos/DTS:X

RobM99

Chocolates! Ice creams!

flaneurs_lobster

RobM99 said:

Chocolates! Ice creams!

"Gannet on a stick"

Belenus

victor2 said:

Many many years ago I took electronic engineering at university and had a lecturer who swore by valves and openly said that transistors will never catch on. 

Was he related to the Decca man who turned down the Beatles?

Belenus

RobM99 said:

I've used valves in Marshall amps for years. Never had a problem with decent valves.

Many years ago I used to have a Marshall Valvestate guitar amplifier. It had one valve in the pre amp stage.

I was never a good enough player to justify anything more expensive.

Belenus

flaneurs_lobster said:

RobM99 said:

Chocolates! Ice creams!

"Gannet on a stick"

Albatross for me please.