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Electron Tubes Vs Semiconductors


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Ever wondered what the difference is between a valve or electron tube and a semiconductor? Which is better? What about sound?

 

The simple difference is the electron tube needs much more voltage to work than does a transistor. Another huge difference is the electron tube diode conducts through free electrons within the tube. That is, whereas in semiconductors the electrons orbit a nucleus of an atom (silicon atoms, for example), with tubes the electrons are free.

 

Tubes are actually quite simple and are far more robust. First the filament is heated by about 5 volts or less till it gets very hot. That releases a cloud of electrons around the filament. Another electrode (plate or anode) is in the tube and connects to positive (say a battery + terminal. If you connect the battery negative to the filament, you then have a diode. Current flows from the cathode (filament), through the tube to the anode and to the battery. Current will flow only one way.

 

It's exactly the same as an alternator diode except conduction is free electrons in a tube and the voltage is far higher.

 

Enough theory. It's hard to say why tubes were dumped to the degree they are today. Some are actually quite small. The audio quality is really good. One of my sets gives 280 volts of audio output and gives a rich, deep sound.

 

They more or less became obsolete in about 1965 or around but have always had some role to play in music recording and Rock bands like The Stones swear by audio tubes.

 

 

 

 

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