CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[krbsforty]

I have noticed that all of the Sears CED players have an emblem on the front panel which reads "Sears SOLID STATE". Were there ever any CED players which were powered by vacuum tubes? I thought most consumer electronic appliances since the 1970s have been solid state; vacuum tube products were phased out during the 1960s & 1970s. They were completely gone before the CED era. Does any one know anything about it? Why would Sears still be advertising their CED players as solid state in the 1980s?

[Rixrex]

Just a holdover marketing program from earlier days. Plenty of older folks paid attention to that stuff even up to the 1990s

But there were and still are many tube devices being made for professional use, such as amplifiers for music bands. Tube harmonics are desirable for many musicians.

[Midwinter]

I am too young to remember tube devices. I obviously know about them and have always been extremely interested in old radios and other devices that used them (computers, etc...)

I remember reading an article about a company that created a nice new compact amp that used tubes and looked sleek for modern day use. I realize this is off topic for your post, but I had to share the story because the amp is too cool. I wish I had an extra $300 to put down on one of these.

http://gizmodo.com/5440901/229-vacuum-tube-amplifier-wows-audiophiles
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My SJT400 keeps me warm MIDWINTER when the OSD board overheats!

Trying my wife's patience one purchase at a time.

[Rixrex]

Tubes have naturally occurring harmonics (multiple frequencies that when occurring simultaneously are pleasing to the ear) that are very similar to those natural harmonics that occur in a singing voice or musical instruments.

That's why the Beach Boys sound so smooth singing together and the Stones are a little more rough edged.

Transistors have a hard time duplicating those harmonics, though they do pretty well on the high end stuff.

It's like a comparison of vinyl vs CD.

But audiophiles have always recognized the superiority of the tube amp in that regard. Years ago I bought a 100 watt Marshall amp for my son who was into guitar, and it had to be a tube amp. The price was plenty more than the transistor amp of same wattage.