What Is a Tube Subwoofer?

The tube audio power amplifier is widely favored by HiFi enthusiasts for its excellent playback sound quality. Commercially available finished electronic tube amplifiers cost thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan. Such high prices are beyond the reach of most enthusiasts.

Tube amplifier

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The tube audio power amplifier is widely favored by HiFi enthusiasts for its excellent playback sound quality. Commercially available finished electronic tube amplifiers cost thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan. Such high prices are beyond the reach of most enthusiasts.

Before the 1960s, the audio field had been dominated by various audio equipment using tube devices, and amplifiers were no exception. The late 1960s, especially the 1970s, can be said to be the most unfortunate era for electronic tubes. Due to its own shortcomings (large size, high power consumption, etc.), it has gradually become obsolete, especially in China. In the late 1970s, electron tubes began to become active abroad. In the 1980s, tube amplifiers became more and more popular. Especially after the invention of the high-quality sound source CD player, with the advancement of the output transformer technology restricting the tube amplifier, the tube amplifier can "neutralize" the rigid "digital sound" of the CD player, and the status of the tube amplifier is increasing. In addition, old enthusiasts have experienced its beautiful sound in the past, and its comeback was first welcomed by these people. At home and abroad, tube amplifiers are sometimes even a status symbol. ^[1]

In use, the electronic tube must have good ventilation and heat dissipation. Overheating of the temperature will definitely shorten the life of the electronic tube, so the electronic tube should be kept as low as possible. The electron tube is afraid of vibration, so it is also important to take anti-vibration measures to avoid vibration as much as possible. If these two points are achieved, the service life of the tube can be at least doubled. For this reason, there should be appropriate space around the tube equipment, especially above it, so as to have good convection ventilation, and if possible, use a fan to help dissipate heat.

When the cathode of a tube is connected to a high-voltage power source before it reaches the required temperature, its cathode will be damaged, which will also shorten the life of the tube. Therefore, if the electronic tube equipment has a preheating device, it must be used, for example, the filament low voltage power supply is turned on to warm up first, and then the high voltage power supply is turned on. If there is no preheating device, then you should not rush in the input signal, you can turn off the volume to the minimum, wait for 20 to 30 minutes to warm up the machine before using it. If an indirectly heated rectifier is used to supply the high voltage of the whole machine, it just provides a simple and effective high voltage delay. In addition, during normal use, do not switch the power frequently.

Of course, if the electronic tube circuit is properly designed to avoid misuse, it can prevent the electronic tube from "early death." It should be normal for the electronic tube to use thousands of listening hours. The most common mistakes in circuit design are too high potential difference between tube filament and cathode, tube screen or curtain grid voltage applied to the maximum value, tube filament voltage is too low or too high, improper tube installation position causes electrode overheating and high voltage The power supply does not have a delay device, etc.