Valves Seen On Graham Slee's Desk!

Hmm. This raises questions! Increasingly I'm reading that valved-up amps are going more and more neutral in presentation and that solid state and valve pre and power amps are converging into some kind of common ground when it comes to sonic presentation.

Graham, you've just stated you're interested in knowing how low you can get the distortion and that you're not into fuzz-box type constructions. If you're going to build a typical Slee component with openness, scale, clarity and neutrality, what is actually to be gained if you succeed?

If such a device ended up sounding essentially like, for example, the Majestic, well, why build it? The valve version would be more expensive and less environmentally friendly, right? I'm more than happy to be corrected!

So my question is, what are you hoping to gain by using valves?

Mick.

I've learned from Graham's previous experiments and bought most of the resulting products. I've got 4 valve guitar amps running and one of my mic preamps has HT valves in it so I'm curious.

James - you've said what I was about to on vinyl and valves.

I agree - I think it's potentially quite a commercially-astute move.

I think there is still a place for valves. I've heard a few high end valve amps - AR, Jadis etc and the results were stunning but the price was equally stunning. I rather like the old glowing bottles for some reason. I still own an old Unison Research S4 which is not without merit, but ultimately lacks some low end control & my current amp outperforms it by some margin without heating the flat.

Many years ago - just after CD started to become mass market, a mate of mine showed me his, to my eyes, completely bizarre system. TT was some budget Dual or Garrard. The amp was a Leak Stereo 20 played through what looked like a pair of bronze radiators (yup ESL 57's). It was a really great sound and the memory has stayed with me. Best of all he found the whole lot in a skip!!!

Let's not forget that some of Grahams phono stages have been praised for their 'valve like' presentation but with solid state convenience. I've never actually heard a valve phono stage.

An interesting experiment anyway, even if it's not intended to be brought to market


Edited by DaveG - 30 Jan 2016 at 12:14pm