Tube vs. Solid State Preamp
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From: Michael A. Terrell on 5 Apr 2010 01:12 Joerg wrote: > > That is sad amplifier design. I never had that happen with tube stuff, > ever. Back in Europe I once had the antenna on a balcony, blasting close > to 100W FM on 144MHz and the old Sachsenwerk radio was maybe 15ft away > from it in the living room, separated just by the glass of a window. It > didn't even flinch. Same for other tube radios where the record player > inputs are always non-balanced. That's how engineering is supposed to be > done. Come on, Joerg. There were amps that sold new for $20 back in the '50s and some small businesses and churches couldn't afford to spend $15,000 on a sound system. They worked OK in 99% of their installations, but all it took was some 'know it all' to screw around with the wiring, the shielding, or leave off the metal covers and they turned into broadband receivers. Usually when they couldn't or wouldn't pay for proper service. -- Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!'
From: Michael A. Terrell on 5 Apr 2010 01:17 Don Lancaster wrote: > > Michael A. Terrell wrote: > > > >>> I've seen quite a few tube PA amps that picked up CB radio, and > >>> police radios into the UHF Mobile band. Some small churches freaked out > >>> when a police call came through the speakers, at full volume during a > >>> church service. > > The original tale was that it was a ham radio operator, and the message > said "Seek You the Exit!". I've heard police calls, Am & FM radio stations, ham & CB radio on sound systems over the decades. On CBer was interfering with a small church next to his house. Instead of asking him to cooperate and stay off the air during their services, they were banging on his doors and screaming at him. 'Bigmouth George' got mad and every time they held service for the next several months, he told them off. BTW, 'Bigmouth George' lived a half block from me at that time. and all you needed to hear him was a small speaker, a 1N34 and a few feet of wire for an antenna. -- Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!'
From: Chris on 5 Apr 2010 11:20 On Apr 5, 7:07 am, Fred Abse <excretatau...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: > On Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:12:52 -0400, Michael A. Terrell wrote: > > > Joerg wrote: > > >> That is sad amplifier design. I never had that happen with tube stuff, > >> ever. Back in Europe I once had the antenna on a balcony, blasting close > >> to 100W FM on 144MHz and the old Sachsenwerk radio was maybe 15ft away > >> from it in the living room, separated just by the glass of a window. It > >> didn't even flinch. Same for other tube radios where the record player > >> inputs are always non-balanced. That's how engineering is supposed to be > >> done. > > > Come on, Joerg. There were amps that sold new for $20 back in the > > '50s and some small businesses and churches couldn't afford to spend > > $15,000 on a sound system. They worked OK in 99% of their > > installations, but all it took was some 'know it all' to screw around > > with the wiring, the shielding, or leave off the metal covers and they > > turned into broadband receivers. Usually when they couldn't or wouldn't > > pay for proper service. > > Old-time preachers didn't need amplification. You could hear them a mile > away. What's changed? > > -- > "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence > over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." > (Richard Feynman) That is funny. I am a sound man for my local Church, and when I have gotten frustrated, I have politely reminded them that Jesus did not have a PA. He would row out a little in a boat, and speak to listeners on the shore using the natural properties of sound traveling over a smooth surface. I been on a lake and heard this effect before. It is amazing. I think there is some sound wave ducting due to a small temperature inversion by the water. Chris
From: Joerg on 5 Apr 2010 12:15 Michael A. Terrell wrote: > Joerg wrote: >> That is sad amplifier design. I never had that happen with tube stuff, >> ever. Back in Europe I once had the antenna on a balcony, blasting close >> to 100W FM on 144MHz and the old Sachsenwerk radio was maybe 15ft away >> from it in the living room, separated just by the glass of a window. It >> didn't even flinch. Same for other tube radios where the record player >> inputs are always non-balanced. That's how engineering is supposed to be >> done. > > > Come on, Joerg. There were amps that sold new for $20 back in the > '50s and some small businesses and churches couldn't afford to spend > $15,000 on a sound system. They worked OK in 99% of their > installations, but all it took was some 'know it all' to screw around > with the wiring, the shielding, or leave off the metal covers and they > turned into broadband receivers. Usually when they couldn't or wouldn't > pay for proper service. > All they'd have to do is tap into their Hammond organ. Those are well designed and since they use them to play the church music they are definitely loud enough. Heck, even a powerful living room tube radio like the one I have is well engineered. It most certainly did not cost $15k. Being low cost does not mean electronics has to be bad. Look at what Ron and Larry Drake have done, they essentially took the contents of grampa's old radio and designed a full fledged communications receiver around those cheap parts. One that gave even Collins a run for the money. Now that's engineering. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Michael A. Terrell on 5 Apr 2010 15:01
Fred Abse wrote: > > On Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:12:52 -0400, Michael A. Terrell wrote: > > > > > Joerg wrote: > >> > >> That is sad amplifier design. I never had that happen with tube stuff, > >> ever. Back in Europe I once had the antenna on a balcony, blasting close > >> to 100W FM on 144MHz and the old Sachsenwerk radio was maybe 15ft away > >> from it in the living room, separated just by the glass of a window. It > >> didn't even flinch. Same for other tube radios where the record player > >> inputs are always non-balanced. That's how engineering is supposed to be > >> done. > > > > > > Come on, Joerg. There were amps that sold new for $20 back in the > > '50s and some small businesses and churches couldn't afford to spend > > $15,000 on a sound system. They worked OK in 99% of their > > installations, but all it took was some 'know it all' to screw around > > with the wiring, the shielding, or leave off the metal covers and they > > turned into broadband receivers. Usually when they couldn't or wouldn't > > pay for proper service. > > Old-time preachers didn't need amplification. You could hear them a mile > away. What's changed? They got older, and quieter. The congregations got bigger, and they added electric fans to cool their building during their services. -- Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!' |