"Mike Gilmour" wrote


OK, a lightning response here also:


Buying without audition is happening more and more in this neck of the
woods
(Highlands) as its so easy to move it on via ebay if its not what you
wanted
and maybe also make a bit of profit on it too if you're lucky.


*Exactamento*



Same here, I've had a few folk who've also taken up valves after listening
here.


I've a very nice chap (Iraqi/Turkish descent living in Brussels) ask me a
string questions about valves atm - Jeez, if you think *we're* hard done by
for valve gear and retail outlets!!!



It could go the other way i.e. the manufacture of even better more
reliable
valves - surely with modern technology the NOS valves could be copied and
improved upon?


Absolutely, but of little interest to the *real* Classic Valve Boys!! ;-)


Many tube amps are weighty but don't forget SS amplifiers are also very
heavy, the big Krells, ML's etc. My own SS amp weighs in at 125 lbs.


I'd bet that most people being tempted by 'budget' valve amps aren't coming
from ss behemoths (some of which are real amps and can sound damn near as
good as valves anyway) but from the ****e little 'flyaway' slices of brushed
aluminium....



The current influx of cheap Chinky amps is both a good and bad thing
(for
various reasons mentioned above) but I gotta say finally that I have yet
to
hear a valve amp that didn't comprehensively **** all over most ss amps
I've
heard in terms of 'listenability' - ie where the 'music' counts more
than
the 'sound quality'......

(My 2p only....)

Make that 4p Mike


(It'll take all night to make the price of a pint at this rate!! :-)