Fully analog tube amps do definitely produce a warmer/richer sound with less complicated things to go wrong. Artists like them because they are reliable, generally user serviceable, (usually just need to replace bad/old tubes) and makes each recording sound relatively unique.
The thing is, is that it really only works during production. Unless being cut direct to a master record, the sound will get saved in a digital format to produce the user-facing media, which can include digital-source vinyls.
Those products marketed to audiophiles try to take the digitally recorded/archived products to “try” making it sound like the original.
Tubes are way less reliable than solid state opamps. Solid state opamps basically never fail, tubes fail all the time. Tubes have almost no impact on the sound of a final recording compared to everything else in the mix. If you want to have a different sound characteristic then use a pedal or an equaliser.
I agree, but with one caveat.
Fully analog tube amps do definitely produce a warmer/richer sound with less complicated things to go wrong. Artists like them because they are reliable, generally user serviceable, (usually just need to replace bad/old tubes) and makes each recording sound relatively unique.
The thing is, is that it really only works during production. Unless being cut direct to a master record, the sound will get saved in a digital format to produce the user-facing media, which can include digital-source vinyls.
Those products marketed to audiophiles try to take the digitally recorded/archived products to “try” making it sound like the original.
Tubes are way less reliable than solid state opamps. Solid state opamps basically never fail, tubes fail all the time. Tubes have almost no impact on the sound of a final recording compared to everything else in the mix. If you want to have a different sound characteristic then use a pedal or an equaliser.