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tubes vs solid state vs transformers vs transformerless [message #93213] Fri, 30 November 2007 14:13 Go to previous message
DJ is currently offline  DJ   FRANCE
Messages: 1124
Registered: July 2005
Senior Member
I recently purchased a Milennia SST-1.

http://www.mil-media.com/stt-1.html

I have been playing around with it a bit today with various tube/ solid
state/transformer/transformerless settings on tube and solid state condenser
mics.

It's just a matter of pushing a couple of buttons to dispel the notion that
a tube circuit has "anything" at all to do with what is bandied about as
"warmth". There is definitely a difference in the sonic footprint between
solid state and tube. the "furriness" of tubes as opposed to a class "A"
solid state circuit is very obvious with this preamp and both have their
appropriate applications, but this unit displays the qualities of what a
transformer does in such an obvious and dramatic way that there should be
one of these set up in every audio habedashery on earth, just to put to rest
the "myths" of tube vs solid state and to demonstrate what a transformer
does to a signal.....I mean...it's not at all subtle.

It's been an interesting experience here. The tube circuit sounds good with
tube mics on this particular unit which is a pairing I've come to avoid
more often than not on a lo of contemporary studio gear and with my
decidedly squeaky clean and extremely detailed SPA U87, the smoothest and
"phattest" sound occurs when pairing with all solid state circuitry with the
transformer switched into the signal path. It sounds very close to the Neve
Portico 5042......but like I said.........if you've ever been curious about
what these various factors will impart to a circuit and you are in a locale
where one of these units can be demo'ed.....just do it. It's worth a
thousand "this vs that" articles.

Deej
 
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