A Beginner’s Guide To Tube Amplifiers
A tube amplifier guide. SET, OTL, Push-Pull. The options for tube amplifier designs are a diverse landscape that is only befitting of the true analog domain. Are records as easy to play as the next song on your iPhone, no. But with some extra work, comes added benefit… usually.
This week’s tube amplifiers guide comes courtesy of the latest episode of The Occasional Podcast, which seeks to demystify most of the entry level-options available for diving into analog amplification. While it isn’t the end-all-be-all encyclopedia on the subject, it does lay some solid roots for decoding all the shorthand – along with some great opinions on sound direct from designer Gary Dews of Border Patrol Audio. Later on in the show, Mark Schneider of Linear Tube Audio also weighs in to throw in his perspective on things.
The Occasional Podcast has just launched into their sixth season. Previous episodes include interviews, how to’s and more from audio’s greatest talents, including another interesting conversation Do Expensive Cables Matter? and A View From The Booth: Reference Systems, Accuracy & Why Audiophiles Love Jazz So Much: including rare interview with the late audio legend engineer Al Schmitt. The finale from season 5 includes the yearly “best of awards” and you can also find episodes covering British HiFi, Subwoofers/Setup/Tips, and the how to: Budgeting From Entry Level To High End. Season 4 highlights include Joseph Audio, Pro-Ject Turntables, and Rob Watts. One can still download this season’s educational show with TOP’s Beginners Primer To High Fidelity Digital Audio alongside the latest on Two-Way Speaker Design. Fan favorite What Is Mastering? What Happens When An Album Is Remastered? is also still available as well. If you are interested in further exploring the analog realm, the Guide To Buying A Turntable (and records) might point you in the right direction.
Options to stream this week’s episode A Guide To Tube Amplifiers: direct from the embed below or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.