Musicians aim for high-quality sound production. However, with current technology, there are many ways to do that. One example is real and simulation amps. Both provide good quality sounds, but each option has pros and cons.
Amp simulators produce tones similar to those of a real amp with additional sound options, convenience, and a more budget-friendly price range. This makes them ideal for recording. However, live amps are preferable for live concerts, as they are more expensive and less convenient, but provide more quality sound.
While this provides some basic information about real and simulation amps, there are also many other factors to consider. Read on to see whether a tube amp or an amp simulator would suit your style and fulfill your needs.
Everything You Should Know About Tube Amps
Even the best amp simulators don’t produce a sound as high-quality as a tube amp can provide its users. This is why tube amps are considered high-quality but come at a high price regarding time and actual cost.
Recordings vs Live Concerts
To record with a tube amp, there are a lot of things that you need to do to prepare a room or space to record in. This process involves a long and tedious process of adjusting small things to reach a point where the room’s acoustics can properly capture the guitar’s true sound.
Tube amps enhance the sound of a guitar extremely well. Many people notice the difference between the sound played through a tube amp and an amp simulator. Because of how clear the sound a tube amp produces is, they are ideal for live concerts and shows.
The amp needs to be plugged in before you play the guitar! You won’t need to change many settings to make your guitar sound wonderful. This saves performers and stage crews a lot of time. These amps are superior to amp simulators in terms of sound production.
Quality of Sound
Guitar amps have long been considered one of the best tools for strong and professional guitar performance. It wasn’t until the most recent versions of amp simulators were released that there was much competition for real amps on the market.
Tube amps use tubes to produce a strong and clear sound, which even the best amp sims struggle to simulate or replicate. Tube amps also produce the best sound at higher volumes, which is important when playing for a crowd. Professionals and amateurs alike will agree that tube amps produce a pure and next-level sound, making them the ideal choice for sound quality in a guitar amp.
Volume
Remember that tube amps can be very loud and are less than ideal when used in shared living spaces or quiet neighborhoods. They will likely harm your relationship with your roommates and neighbors if not used tactfully. This being said, it is another indication of why real amps are ideal for live performances, as they project the sound of guitars to a large crowd and maintain a high quality of sound.
Best Selling Tube Amps
- Full Upgraded Version of ST-01: 1. Supports U-disk input to play lossless formats music. 2. Add sensitivity adjustment of VU meter on its bottom, easy to set and match better with different input signals. 3. Add three decorative golden circles around tubes and VU meter, looks more exquisite and luxury.
- Unique and amazing combination: With VU meter into whole in such a mini size, the pointer dancing in the warm light with strong vintage feelings when enjoy HiFi music, dynamically decorates the audio system space.
- HiFi clear sound with tone control: resonable circuit and concise wiring, adopts vacuum tubes to soften the sound and filter out the digital feelings, sounds warm and sweet without noise. Also with treble and bass knobs to adjust one’s own preferable sound styles, presents HiFi music with rousing highs and deep lows.
- Strong output power and special AUX output: use TI’s classic power amp IC, each channel can output 100W(4Ω) and easily to drive all 3-8Ω passive speakers, adds 3.5mm AUX output easy to connect another amplifier or active speaker / subwoofer to build multiple channel system and enjoy wonderful home theater experience.
- With multiple digital audio inputs: Bluetooth 5.0 / USB / Coaxial / Optical / stereo RCA, compatible with most audio device such as phones, computers, tablets, TVs, TV, CD players etc. The perfect combination of DAC and amplifier, very suitale for audiophiles who have various audio devices.
- Features of BluTube WD Rockville BluTube WD Audiophile grade tube amplifier with Bluetooth Color 2-Tone silver with wood accent 25 watts x 2 RMS @ 8 ohm 35 watts x 2 RMS @ 4 ohm (1) set of RCA inputs to connect to any audio device like a TV Laptop or MP3 player etc
- Optical input Coaxial input Sub output Tube amps do not hard-clip even at high volumes and are extremely efficient Due to this the amp sounds more like double the rated power!
- Built in Bluetooth with 33 foot range Built-in Preamplifier Headphone output VU meter Adjustable bass and treble (2 band equalizer) USB input for music files from USB thumb drive
- Rear Speaker Terminals Banana plug / binding post outputs for 2 speakers Frequency Response ( 3dB) 22Hz-20kHz Input Impedance 47kO Input Sensitivity 300mV Output Impendence 4-8ohm Total Harmonic Distortion(THD) ≤0 02%
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio(S/N) ≥86dB Bluetooth 2 1+EDR USB Supports WAV/MP3/WMA/APE/FLAC. Unit weight 6 6 lbs Unit dimension 10 6″ x 10 2″ x 5 1″
- MUZISHARE X7 Upgraded version. Upgraded the internal coupling capacitor, is the designer to debug the custom-made silver film capacitor, relative to the classic version of the extension, control, density is better.
- MUZISHARE X7 is an integrated Amplifier. This is also a Power Amplifier (there is a group pre-amp input), a Headphone amplifier and this is a amplifier for Phono player too, direct link your phono player to this amplifier to output to speakers.
- Pure Handmade,point to point hand welding using two high-quality wide-frequency high-quality Japanese EI output transformer using a high-power Z11 core toroidal power transformer dedicated designed for the machine ， voltage amplification and promote are used tube 5AR4 for rectifier power supply.
- Use 12AX7 and 12AU7 vacuum tube for voltage amplification and phase inversion,use KT88 vacuum tube to do AB1 push-pull power amplification; Mute delay function when turn on the amp(about 30 seconds) ；the choice of Japanese ALPS motor potentiometer
- Provide Triode and Ultralinear selection function: Triode work mode. soft. pure and sleek. suitable for enjoying vocals. strings Music and other types of music; Ultralinear work. the sound of open. unrestrained. the momentum is good. for large scenes. large dynamic type of music. Peripheral power tube current adjustment knob and current display meter. With pure power amplifier features. can be linked the pre-amp signal input. with the phono function. can be connected to the Phono player
- TUBE HYBRID AMPLIFIER: Front Panel Main Volume/Bass/Treble adjustment knob. Supplied with a replaceable tube. 25 watts x 2 RMS @ 8 ohm. 35 Watts x 2 RMS @ 4 ohm.
- EXQUISITE MATERIALS: Headphone Power Amplifier adopting aluminum alloy oxidation drawing process has stronger protection. Metal cutting knob for more delicate control.
- TUBE PROTECTION COVER: The use of whole Aluminum block mesh for the tube protection not only adding protection to the Tubes, but also provides Decoration and Kids Protection for the hot tubes.
- STEREO INPUT: Super powerful extension, multiple audio sources. Connectable with Powered Phono Player/PC/Smart-Phone/CD & DVD Player/TV by using RCA/Optical/Coaxial, Bluetooth connection only for Smartphone. Smart connection allows you to enjoy the of music in many ways.
- PERFECT SERVICE: 6 months warranty gives you a great shopping experience. If you encounter any problems, please contact our customer service team immediately.
- 【Tube + Transistor Hybrid Amplifier】XDUOO MT-602 adopts 6J1 tube for pre-amp and transistors for class-A buffer. The front tube amplifier and rear transistor combine the advantages of two amplifier circuits to achieve the ideal sound effect and make you immersed in the happy atmosphere of music
- 【Compact Portable Headphone Amplifier】As it adopts transistors for buffer, strong output power up tp 1300mW, can easily drive many kind of headphones. Moreover, designed with palm size(12*7.8*4cm), it’s easy to carry everywhere for real-time HiFi music experience
- 【Professional Capacitance】Apart from adopting the special enthusiast Japanese ELNA capacitance as the coupling capacitance to present have transparent and sweet sound, it also adopts the special enthusiast Japanese RUBYCON capacitance as the main filter capacitance to reach smooth and warm sound, and splendid high frequency.
- 【Volume Control, AUX In/Out】This model is designed with one line output, through the tube, and controlled by volume. lt can be used as the Pre-amplifier of all kinds of audio amplifier or active speaker, and improve the sound quality of audio amplifier or active speaker. If you have any questions while using, please feel free to contact us.
- 【Matte Surface, Aluminum Alloy Shell】MT-602 is more than it’s amazing features, it is exquisitely built as well. Follow the modern minimalism design, it’s crafted with simple elegant look with matte surface, made of aluminum alloy. You will truly explore the beauty of it when you hold it and enjoy HiFi music
Are Amp Simulators Good Substitutes For Tube Amplifiers?
It may seem like real and tube amps are so good that there may be no point in purchasing an amp simulator. That is where you are wrong. While it is true that the sound quality of an amp sim is not as clear and precise as that of a real or tube amp. There are many things amp simulators have to offer, many of which are benefits not found when you use a tube amp.
Sound Quality
Amp simulators were not very high-quality products when they were first released. It was painfully apparent that the amp in use was a simulator simply by the quality alone. However, the sound produced by the newest amp sim models on the market shows that the quality is nearly comparable to that of a true or real tube amplifier.
In some cases, many people won’t even be able to recognize the difference between a recording made with a real amplifier and one recorded with an amp simulator. However, skilled guitarists and professionals who are extremely familiar with the sound of each amplifier can still distinguish between the two rather well. At lower volumes, especially when other instruments are being played in a recording, it will be much more difficult to tell when an amp sim is being used than a tube amp.
Product Gain for Price
Amp simulators come at various prices ranging from as little as $50 to several thousand dollars. This is convenient for buyers, as it allows those with a large or small budget to afford an amplifier that can do the job for them, even if these amps perform at a different level than tube amps.
A quality amp will generally cost around $100-$1000. One large upside to purchasing an amp sim is that amp simulators produce an incredibly large variety of sounds in addition and have the same effects as an average simulator. This means you are paying this price for a simulator and receiving dozens of other sound options!
Transportation and Compactness
Another upside to having an amp simulator is that they take up considerably less space and are much easier to move and transport than tube amps. It is much more reasonable to bring a laptop and an audio interface from place to place for performances and practice than to haul around a tube amp. This means anyone who plays many shows, has limited rehearsal space or moves their equipment around regularly would likely appreciate an amp simulator more than a tube amp.
Best Selling Amp Simulators
- JOYO American Sound guitar effect pedal reproduces the sound of Fd 57 Deluxe amp, performs great sound from clean to driven and everywhere in between which can simulate lots of amplifiers.
- Level and Drive controls add incredible range, with it’s full 3 band EQ and voice knob you can easily dial in any tone you can think of. Adjust for shaping EQ and overdrive response, it can simulate many kinds of Amps.
- The sound you hear on the 60’s surf classics, as well as the country and rockabilly hits from the 50’s is the classic fenders clean sound. whole aluminium-alloy housing classic stoving varnish finish, stable and strong.
- JOYO is over decade of brand reputation, with the most popular budget pedals, amplifiers, wireless systems, controllers, metronomes, tuners winning the love of global guitarists and inspiring people’s music dreams.
- Before playing, please make sure the guitar is fully connected with the pedal. in order to make JOYO pedals work properly and avoiding unexpected noise, we recommend you to purchase an extra JOYO original power adapter, or choose the other reliable brands and make sure it meets the working current requirement of single pedal.
- Add Amp Academy to any pedal chain and connect to a mixer or PA system for excellent tone, control, and flexibility during live performance.
- Connect Amp Academy directly to a recording interface for excellent guitar tone, instantly, without the need to set up an amp or microphones.
- Connect headphones or monitors directly to Amp Academy’s 1/8” PHONE OUT to experience immersive classic amp tones in a natural sounding room without an amp.
- Amp Academy features 6 legendary amp models like Vintage, Classic, Modern, Brown, Red, and Iridium.
- 1024 samples IR resolution with 3rd party IR loader capacity makes it easy to bring your favorite amp sound everywhere.
- JOYO AC Tone guitar effect pedal, reproduces the sound of a Vox AC30 amplifier–that classic British rock sound all guitarists dream about.
- Level and Drive controls add incredible range, while the 3-band EQ offers even more flexibility when it comes to getting an original sound.
- With it’s full 3 band EQ and voice knob you can easily dial for shaping EQ and overdrive response, it can simulate many kinds of Amps.
- JOYO is over decade of brand reputation, with the most popular budget pedals, amplifiers, wireless systems, controllers, metronomes, tuners winning the love of global guitarists and inspiring people’s music dreams.
- Before playing, please make sure the guitar is fully connected with the pedal. in order to make JOYO pedals work properly and avoiding unexpected noise, we recommend you to purchase an extra JOYO original power adapter, or choose the other reliable brands and make sure it meets the working current requirement of single pedal.
- Three amplifier models crafted using Matrix Modeling, capturing the subtleties and unique tonal qualities of each amp:
- True Bypass (electromechanical relay switching) or selectable transparent Analog Buffered Bypass
- Strong and lightweight anodized black aluminum chassis
- 4.5″ deep x 4″ wide x 1.75″ tall
- Designed and built in the USA
- JOYO CAB BOX is a cabinet modeling pedal, with IR loading supported. It has 4 tube power amp simulations, 20 cabinet models and 11 classic microphone models.
- It has more interface, much bigger screen with more buttons compared with rival’s similar products, it’s quite user-friendly, regarding the IR, apart from 20 preset loading locations, it also supports storing 10 third party IRs.
- Ability connect to the PC through the USB, and use the matching software to edit tones and update firmware, load or delete third party IRs, supports both Windows/Mac OS. 128 tone store positions, supporting MIDI controlled devices changing tone real time. It can connect to amp’s FX LOOP or other devices for stereo output.
- JOYO is over decade of brand reputation, provide worry-free after-sale service. with the most popular budget pedals, amplifiers, wireless systems, controllers, metronomes, tuners winning the love of global guitarists and inspiring people’s music dreams.
- Before playing, please make sure the guitar is fully connected with the pedal. in order to make JOYO pedals work properly and avoiding unexpected noise, we recommend you to purchase an extra JOYO original power adapter, or choose the other reliable brands and make sure it meets the working current requirement of single pedal.
