Tubes Versus Transistors-Is There an Audible Difference

Hamm RO. Tubes Versus Transistors-Is There an Audible Difference. J Audio Eng Soc. 1973;21(4):267-273. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=1980

@article{Hamm1973_1980,
  author = {Hamm, Russell O.},
  title = {{Tubes Versus Transistors-Is There an Audible Difference}},
  journal = {Journal of the Audio Engineering Society},
  volume = {21},
  number = {4},
  pages = {267--273},
  year = {1973},
  month = may,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=1980}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Tubes Versus Transistors-Is There an Audible Difference
AU  - Hamm, Russell O.
T2  - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
J2  - J. Audio Eng. Soc.
VL  - 21
IS  - 4
SP  - 267
EP  - 273
PY  - 1973
DA  - 1973/05/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=1980
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Engineers and musicians have long debated the question of tube sound versus transistor sound. Previous attempts to measure this difference have always assumed linear operation of the test amplifier. This conventional method of frequency response, distortion, and noise measurement has shown that no significant difference exists. This paper, however, points out that amplifiers are often severely overloaded by signal transients (THD 30%). Under this condition there is a major difference in the harmonic distortion components of the amplified signal, with tubes, transistors, and operational amplifiers separating into distinct groups.
ER  -