Care and Feeding of Vacuum Tubes (Valves)

At 7:09 PM +0000 3/14/13, R SMALLWOOD wrote: I have lived through the valve era, then transistors and finally integrated circuit amplifiers. Setting fidelity on one side for a moment. I have theory. I am of the opinion that medium by which the sound is conveyed sometimes adds to the performance. In the 1950's and 60's I would listen in the UK to Radio Luxembourg and AFN broadcasting from Europe. They were the only pop stations available in England well into the 1960's The medium wave distortion would change the audio in all kind of interesting ways. Many's the time I would rush down to the local record shop to buy the latest hit disc (7/6d in those days) Only to find it did not sound the same on my three valve record player. The mechanical recordings up to 1920's and the early electronic systems in the 1930's add a dimension that is just not there with a modern band playing the same notes on period instruments. So the recording and playback system is an invisible performer that may well add something. Take a look into Recording Curves, and prepare to go mad as you try to decipher how to play different 78's! Prior to the RIAA Curve used now, basically every manufacturer had their own curve, and their records would sound the best on their equipment. Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh at aracnet.com | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | | Photographer | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | My flickr Photostream | | http://www.flickr.com/photos/33848088 at N03/ | | My Photography Website | | http://www.zanesphotography.com |