What is a valve amplifier? A crash course.
Anybody who knows Vintage & Valve can tell you we are enamoured with valve amps. Hell, we like them so much we even named ourself after their glowing magical components. We often get asked, "What is a valve amplifier?" and "What makes it so special?"
Well...
With the emergence of new technologies every day it is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of different ways we can listen to our music. Endless Spotify playlists and Youtube streams clutter our phones and computers, meaning we have so much audio at our fingertips we just don't know what to do with it all. As more people began to feel disconnected from their favourite albums by consuming them in such a sterile way we saw vinyl make its glorious comeback. Everybody loves a bit of a retro craze, but the record revolution has gone from strength to strength as more younger listeners are discovering the joys of vinyl for the first time. Now more than ever people are looking to build and improve their home stereo systems to optimise their listening experience, creating resurgence in the demand for valve amps. So what is a valve amplifier I hear you ask?
The first electronic amplification device was created by inventor Lee De Forest in 1906 and was named the Audion. First used to amplify telephone signals across long distances, it wasn't until decades later that this triode technology was applied to audio systems. Valve amplifiers have always been the go to choice for serious audiophiles worldwide. Known for their ability to produce warm, rich and rounded tones; they are making a comeback in retaliation to the often clinical precision of solid state circuitry.
The key component separating valve amplifiers from their digital peers are their vacuum tubes. These glass tubes boost weak signals and send them on their way to the listeners desired output. Whether that be another amplifier, a pair of headphones or a loud speaker for example. Tubes come in all shapes and sizes, and each type amplifies, compresses and distorts the signal in a unique way. Audiophiles will tell you that not all tubes are created equal and specific types suit specific scenarios. What may be perfect for a jazz guitarists boutique amp may not be suited to an audio engineers headphone pre-amp and vice-versa.
“Hold on a minute, what is with all this tube talk? Aren't we meant to be discussing valves here?” I hear you say.
Well, the vacuum tubes we talked about earlier contain a triode rather than a standard diode. As its namesake suggests a triode contains a third electrode known as the grid. The grid is situated in between the negatively charged cathode and the positively charged anode. As the grid is also negatively charged, the flow of negative electrons from the cathode to the anode is restricted. Just as a water valve restricts the free flow of water in a system, the grid restricts the free flow of negative electrons. Thus earning these tubes the nickname valves. The change in current caused by the valve can then be applied to the output. Imagine a speaker code pulsing in relation to the current being manipulated by the grid inside the tube. Brilliant isn't it?
The process the signal goes through provides the listener with all the original audio information that the input signal contains, only delivered with a warm and smoother edge. Valve amplifiers are a little more forgiving once a signal reaches the point of clipping than a solid state amplifier. This is because the transition from linear amplification to clipping is less abrupt, providing the listener with a less abrasive type of distortion. In the 60s guitarists became hooked on the gritty rebellious tones they could produce by pushing their tube amps to the limit, making the valve amplifier a key player in the birth of rock music. Today guitarists across the world opt for valve technology over cheaper and lighter alternatives because of its undeniable sonic qualities.
So next time you get to witness a valve amp in action peer inside at those glowing glass pieces of electronic wizardry, soak in the warmth and enjoy the experience that only analogue technology can provide.
