Brief Self-An Introduction to The Audiophiles
Vacuum tubes... Some call
them old fashioned, others call them antiques... but a few call
them
the "best way" to reproduce a musical events.
Tube amplifiers sound just amazing. I like the warmth and natural
sound of vintage tubes.
Before ten years and over, some audio magazines was predicted
that "a future stereo system is
not DIY, but it become an age to buy ready-made manufactures and
to take enjoyment in listening."
But, it was not actually so. Many standardized manufactures come
on market, and there is no taste
in goods-making, and it stop having a user's expectation it meets
with the present manufactured
product.
In 1930's, various audio technologies advanced by leaps and
bounds as a background the development
of the talkie sound system for the theater. Three big talkies
system; Western Electric, RCA and
Klungfilm was felled over one another. The sound output of
amplifier in those days was only
several watts. These amplifiers just always hold that ability to
just capture the audience in the theater
by using high efficiency speakers.
In 1940's, the gorgeous
golden age of the stereo system opened a curtain in the
appearance of
LP record and FM broadcasting of the radio. An amplifier in those
days was the amplifier which
used a vacuum tube for the professional use and consumer use.
The development of today's stereo system industries depend on the
large scale production
of transistor amplifier caused by the progress of the
semiconductor manufacturing technology
at the 1960's and the appearance of the digital audio technology
after 1970's. But, it overflowed
unattractive home electrical appliance like stereo system in the
market, spoiled the enjoyment
of the audio hobby from before.
There were many examples that it was made by itself in early
Phonograph age, because it was
high cost and it could not be bought but wanted to listen to the
music. At those days, it is
because a manufacture product was still high cost and the one
made by DIY was cheaper.
But the one to make now by DIY rather is stuck high. It is still
made by DIY not only thing make
enjoy but also sound create can enjoy.
I think that vacuum tube
amplifiers is being of existence of minority in a today, and in a
future.
If it says conversely, vacuum tube amplifiers may be attractive
as a tool of the audio hobby
because it is being of minority.
Kitao Ito; was a senior engineer at Westrex oriental branch is
stated about industrial work
of the amplifier as follows. "The arts is necessary for
amplifier-making. An art is not enough
when it is handmade by DIY. It is good at neither wiring nor the
sheet metal handicraft
if a schematic diagram to adopt if not electrical theory is
understood can not be chosen
and handicrafts are not practiced. If ability to listen to the
music is not trained, the sound
which is the final purpose of the work can not be judged. A
degree of completion of the amplifiers
can not be if it evaluated does not have a sense of its own to
judge good and bad of the appearance."
I made a vacuum tube amplifier for the first time in about twenty
years ago from now
by my self, and listened to the sound of that amplifier. I have
been captivated by human sound
of vacuum tube amplifier ever since.
The amplifier is the tool to
listen to the music. But there is a new encounter in the sound
which plays a vacuum tube amplifier with music. The sound of
vacuum tube amplifier has
the charm which stirs up the romantic and kindly brightness.
Through audio hobby, I meet many good friends in Japan and other
countries. I hope to see
many good friends on this web site.
E-mail to
kouchi@cypress.ne.jp