Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Speaker Asylum ] [ Return to Search Results ]
[ Alert Moderator ]

RE: A question about tube-friendly vs SS-friendly speakers

Strangely enough, speakers are designed to respond with linear frequency response when driven with linear voltage amplitude. Solid State amplifiers have very low output impedance so their voltage amplitude response versus load is very linear. Tube amplifiers have relatively high output impedance so their voltage changes significantly when the load varies. As a result, tube amplifiers often sound better with speakers that have relatively linear impedance response curves.

Higher impedance speakers draw less power for a given voltage. In that sense, they are easier to drive. However, most amplifiers are designed to deliver their rated power output so it's not really necessary to think that higher impedance speakers are necessarily better. For tube amplifiers, the best speakers are those with relatively linear impedance curves. After all, tube amplifiers use output impedance matching transformers so they can cope with virtually any impedance as long as it is relatively linear with respect to frequency.

For example, my Thiel speakers perform well with tube amplifiers because their impedance curve is linear to +/- 0.5-ohm between 60-Hz and 24-kHz. The nominal impedance is only 3-ohms, but tube output transformers take care of matching tube output impedance to speaker input impedance. Here is what the impedance curve looks like for my Thiel CS3.7 speakers.


.

The rise in impedance below 60-Hz tends to boost bass response slightly when using a tube amplifier. Many people find this to be desirable.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Signature Sound   [ Signature Sound Lounge ]

Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups
FAQ

Post a Message!

 Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]