Tube amp for iPods [Archive]

Buddy J

3 Jul 2008, 4:20pm

I'm a sucker for tube amps. Check out the Symphonic Designs Tube Amp for iPods (http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/audio/symphonic-designs/). It's sexkzyhawt.

Kwitko

3 Jul 2008, 4:29pm

Now all we need is an analog iPod (aPod?). :)

RADA

3 Jul 2008, 4:32pm

It's sexkzyhawt.

Agree, very hawt......

airbornflght

4 Jul 2008, 12:02am

That video review was horrible.

primesuspect

4 Jul 2008, 12:42am

It's so wasted on the iPod's craptacular audio hardware. A sony walkman would be swank on that

Thrax

4 Jul 2008, 1:59am

It's so wasted on the iPod's craptacular audio hardware. A sony walkman would be swank on that

iPods are the best mobile music device ever created. You're crazy.

Kwitko

4 Jul 2008, 2:49pm

Except for the ****ty interface, overly sensitive touch wheel, horrible battery life, ergonomically crippling and underpowered headphones, constantly failing hard drive, and high price, I agree.

airbornflght

4 Jul 2008, 3:05pm

A sony walkman would be swank on that

If I had money to drop I would buy a walkman. They look amazing.

-tk

4 Jul 2008, 4:14pm

If you dig the "hot tube" as I do, have a look at these (http://www.vacuumtube.com/vacuum.htm).

The only issue is that you're only amplifiing a pre-manipulated line level signal. So it may come out sounding like complete garbage. It all depends on the quality of the source, but they never tell you that in an ad for a very expensive piece of gear. Basically if you plug your mp3 player into one of those, it's still going to sound like an mp3 player. You may get some of the tube warmth if you amp the mp3 player signal enough.

You could actually get the same effect by running your ipod or similiar device through the power stage of a tube guitar amplifier. If you have a tube amp, with a "Power Amp In" jack just plug it right in there and you're good to go.

airbornflght

4 Jul 2008, 5:58pm

I never really understood the 'warmth' issue. I've listened to both style of amps and the sound fairly close to me. I really feel like the play up the sound of tube amps in a similar manner as premium cable companies. I think if you pay 2 grand for an amp that doesn't even push that much power you want to hear a difference so you are going to hear a difference.

The only real difference between solid state amps and tube amps is how they handle over loads. Tube amps will compress the signal and solid state amps just start clipping, which will damage speakers. I get tired of all the voodoo surrounding tube amps. I'd rather have a good set of speakers than a $2000 amp that puts out 10 watts on a good day. Hah... Gimme a Crown amp and I make 'em pound.