Has anyone heard an all valve rig e.g. Axis, S&P?

A well designed valve amp run within its limits shouldn't sound a lot different to a solid state. There are differences such as reduced output damping and a reliance on output transformers that you can't get away from easily unless you are building some quite exotic OTL design. When you start to crank them up and clip them, things change a bit.

Tbh building a valve amplifier for >100W output per channel the costs in transformers and parts start to become quite high, and its not a linear relationship. Even worse if you want to amplify bass frequencies.

Unless you want quite a modest system, or are planning to use some very high efficiency drivers, I wouldn't be looking at all valve amplification. I'd build a valve pre-amp instead and run a more conventional system behind it.

I am no weak heart!!!! Lifting my 600w double decker x12 6550's
beast keeps me fit......
Unless you have big money to spend, dedication and can actually find
a builder, it's not a recommended route.
The Soundsystem who made valve sound part of their mystery is Jah Shaka. He used valves on bass for an effect, using distortion that valves can generate.
I have operated a valve system (Tradition hi-fi) in a meeting with Valve-a-Tron. All I can say is the 500 Watt bass though his double 18's was SUBLIME.
Sounds back in the day, kept the valves on bass, but used transistors for mid/tops duty.
It all depends on what you want to sound like. In imho, a valve pre isn't noticeable enough to make a difference, but if you are after the growling bass a big valve amp is the only way.


Edited by valve head777 - 17 February 2018 at 12:20pm

Nice.

Another thing about valves.....
Their rated power output is based on a low THD. At this power level distortion is low, but driving them harder increases power output at the expense of distortion. This is why it is said, watt for watt, valve amps are louder but like I say, more distortion. On mid/tops, this is not desirable but on bass can invoke a sense of urgency/vibes. This is were the notioin of using your Soundsystem as an instrument in its own right comes in. When reggae is played this way, it's no longer about ultimate fidelity but more about vibes.
The times where a dance had a crowd focused on the music and it's meaning are sadly gone, so being able to vibe it like this goes over the top of people's heads now. With modern equipment, vibing this way may lead to equipment  distruction as well. A roaring, growling b-line has been replaced by pummeling the body.
Pure distortion was never the game, using all the subtle changes to emphasise the bass line and charge up an atmosphere was.
Shaka was the ruler in this.

This is only my opinion, and other valve useres have other reasons to use this kit. But I come from a showbusiness angle where building emotion is the aim. Reggae used to be rebel music.....
Good luck on your journey


Edited by valve head777 - 17 February 2018 at 4:08pm

Mmmm, does a TX core really change its magnetic properties?
Generally, it's the output tx that dictates the sound before saturation occurs I believe. Overdriving valves does wear out the screen and output impedance is also crucial to this. The thing I like is the wave shape becoming a sort of saw tooth. I do know a builder who winds his tx's so they reproduce a square wave up to 40khz. His hifi amps do sound good.
Unfortunately he's been brainwashed by the alt-right, but that's another story!! Maybe succumbed to too much RF radiation from his pirate radio transmitter heh heh.....
Yes, the physical weight is horrible, but when people see the blue pulse in time with the b-line, they're sort of memorized! And they do seem to love it when the bass begins to fry.


Edited by valve head777 - 17 February 2018 at 9:53pm

Many many years ago I heard Admiral kens sound (Kenny Edwards), I'd gone to his club the bouncing ball in Peckham to try and sell him some HH V800's that he had shown some interest in, he fired the JBL loaded club system up, it was run of a single valve amp, superb awesome sound with very warm bass, couldn't sell him the amps simply because he didn't need them and it wouldn't have improved the sound.

Edited by colint - 17 February 2018 at 10:39pm