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Re: Why does less output mirror better sound?

Hi Andy,

Power and Amplification factor are unrelated. The 45, 2A3 and 300B all have a low Amplification factor (around 3.5 - 4) while the VT-25/10 has a higher Amplification Factor (8). The well reknowned WE437 which makes a nice 1.5 Watt single Valve Amp (or the VT-Omega/6S45PE) has a huge Amplification Factor (42 or 52 respectively).

Looking further and comparing internal structures of Valves I find that the more delicate the internat stuctures in a valve, the more delicate the Sound.

Comapring the Inductrial Strength Anode, Cathode and Grid on an 845 to the insides of a 45, WE437A or 6S45PE shows dramatic differences. I believe here we hear the same effects as with transistor Amplifiers.

The best sounding Trasistor Amp's I have come across all have low power, use single pairs (or single) modest power output Transistors. All else for more power sounds worse.

The other side is also drivability. The 45 needs 100 V Peak-Peak for full output, the 845 in excess of 300 V Peak-Peak. This maens Driver Circuits for the 845 need to have more gain and more Voltage Swing ability. At the same time they need to deliver more current due to high capacitance and grid current.

This basically means that a simple 1.5 Watt with a 45 is very easy to design and get to work well. On the other hand 845's are hard work, very hard work and at the same time even at their best do not sound all that good. That is just the way life works.

It is a really simple rule and seems to work reliably for all Amp's Se-Valve, PP-Valve and Transistors:

The higher the output power the worse the sound, given equal skills of the designer.

So basically, you can have good sound or (relatively) high power, never however both.

Ciao Thorsten


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