We’ve seen these tube-based iPod amps before, and they’re sexy, and there’s also no doubt that in general tube amplification sounds far, far better than transitorized audio. But here’s the thing: the music on you iPod is digitized anyway, will playing it back through an analog, tubed amp make it sound any better, really?
I shouldn’t think so. MP3 compression at the source would actually be more discernible coming from a tube amp, I’d wager. Maybe if you were dealing with uncompressed WAV files, which the iPod supports, it’d be better, but it’d still be digital audio through an analog amp, garbage in, garbage out and all of that.
Or am I wrong? Have any of you readers used one of these style analog tube docks? I’d love to know if there’s any real difference, we can put this debate to bed.
Vintage iPod Tube Amp/Chargerpad [Herrington]
Fatman amps are bogus. The power amp section (the amplifier stage that frives the speakers) is solid state. The tubes you do see are pre-amp tubes and indicator tubes, they might aas well be light bulbs.
Pre amp tube are usually very linear and usually have no trnasformers, and are very hard to tell from solid state
Real tube amps sound the way they do because the power amps are comprised of tubes, and transformers that for many reasons lend that fat, warm tube sound to the music.
I forgot to mention, I use a real tube amp to listen to music stored on my computer, and it does make a difference.
The day I installed the tube amp my wife came in and said, “wow whats different about the sound, it’s great! It’s very smooth.”
So yes, even MP3’s will benifit, but unlikely you’ll get much of this sound from this product.
Thanks Chuck, that’s kinda what I was hoping to hear, but wasn’t sure.
Chuck, what amp do you use/recommend?
I like to buy 50’s/60’s/70’s vintage stuff and restore/tweak them to my own likings, when I get tired of one thing or see something else that might be amusing I sell my current pet and start the process over again. Currently using a 1964 Dyna SCA-35 for a computer monitor amplifier. Cheap, needed a ton of work, but now sounds great. I would not recommend this unless you have alot of electronics background as it can be a pain in the rear to make one of these work. The old Dynaco stuff is cheap and if you can find a working one a pretty good value. Old McIntosh stuff is really nice when working but their tube amps can be really expensive, I’d probably go with something new before I’d plunk down $5k plus for some of this stuff.
Most of the companies that make new tube amps seem to leave out all of the practicle things like a variety of input and ouptut jacks, switching, tone controls, balance etc. I think its because the audiophile mentality has labeled these things as bad, most audiophiles are complete morons. Also the price of most new tube amp is completely crazy.
I have not owned one, but I hear good things about the Jolida JD-102B 25W per channel amp that can be had for around $500-$600, but like I said above it’s missing alot of functioality so you will need some sort of pre-amp. Also I think Jolida is a bit optimistic about 25W channel using EL-84 tubes in an ultralinear configuration, probably closer to 15-20W.
This is one of the areas I’ll be checking out when I go to CES on Tuesday. If I see anything cool I’ll drop a follow up note.
that looks more like an espresso machine than an amp.
I can say that running an iPod through a tube amp can sound very nice, especially if the music files are stored in Lossless. Full disclosure: I am one of the founders of GLOW AUDIO, and we are now marketing smallish single ended tube amplifiers that happen to sound great with an iPod, and look great, too.
A notable feature of our amps is that they have a USB port built in, so you can connect directly to your computer.
I haven’t heard the Fatman, but my guess is that even having just the pre-amp being tube driven can produce audible benefits.
SOrry, I neglected to provide our website information!
http://www.glow-audio.com
In reply (sort of) to Patrick and more to any who are here because they were looking for the tube sound from PC/Ipod – I have one of Glow-Audio’s AMP ONE’s… and the sound is perfectly sublime. I would add (something that is clearly indicated in the manual and is part of all tube equipment – other than used ones with used tubes) – tubes need to be burned in – figure on not hearing the ‘true quality’ of the sound until you are at least 100 Hrs in… I believe the manual states at least 50 Hrs… but I continued to hear improvements for about 3 weeks of listening 4-6 hours/day.
I should disclose in referrence to the iPod/PC… I actually haven’t used it connected to the AMP ONE – and although I’m sure it’s great, the DAC used isn’t a top-of-the-line chip (it’s good, just not close to the best… what do you expect for the great price?). However, I’m using it with a good mid-grade (Pioneer Elite) CD player and the amp is driving some high-efficiency Klipsch SF2’s (~96db/1w/1m) – it’s sounds significantly better than the sound from my Pioneer Elite receiver (of course, that’s party because of the ‘tube sound’).
I did audition the FatMan… and it sounds very nice – however, not as nice as my AMP ONE does… ;)
PS – Thanks Patrick… now where’s that AMP TWO?!?! I’ll gladly be a guinea pig for ya if you want to loan one out to me for a few months. LOL! :D
Solid state amps are also Analogue. Tube does not equal analogue and Solid State does not equal digital. The argument in the opening paragraph is flawed. Both Solid State and Tube can be and usually is analogue. There are digital amps such as the Tripath and such and it it said they sound very nice. That being said I have not heard this system. I do think it looks nice though ;) mmmm glowing are pretty!
Let your ears decide.
One thing that Tubes do do though is act as a filter. Digital signals can have very sharp and very large spikes in the signal. These spikes are generally not audible but can effect the overall quality of sound by the effect it has on circuits down the signal chain. The advantage of a tube based preamp is that tubes will softly filter out these digital spikes. They can also offer a bit of warmth to the otherwise sterile sound. This is not to say that this is a truer or more accurate representation of the original recording but for some it just sounds nicer. And yes a preamp tube does sound different than a solid state preamp.
I have a Fatman amp in my office with a pair of good speakers and an Ipod full of lossless music and the whole kit makes me very happy. I think Chuck should lighten up and consider that it serves a specific audience that wants something a little better than the average Ipod dock, but aren’t as passionate as he is about such things.
If I have a complaint, it’s the lame logo plastered across this thing.