what makes vacuum tubes the better choice for some application (most notably an amp for music) over more modern options?
In: Engineering
The reason is because classic designs and variations on them persist forever. There was a time when tube guitar amps were often displaced by solid state designs; the Gibson/Moog Lab Series sold a lot of units, as did the Roland JC series. Peavey solid state amps also sold a lot.
By the 1990s, the rise of Guitar Center and the Internet changed how people saw solid state. Solid state evolved to being entry level amps ( although Sears/Wards and the Crate marque had cheap solid state entry level amps ). People wanted to derive prestige from expensive toys. The number of people who used amps as tools declined.
Guitar players are not all that rational in their choices. But still – many of the better amps are tube. At higher volume, there can be significant sonic differences. Not always.
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