-=> TOM WALKER wrote to WAYNE CHIRNSIDE <=-

 -> Where you aware in certain circumstances tubes have made a comeback?
 -> Not the tubes I knew but near invisable tiny things that
 -> use tiny extremely sharp cathodes as electron emitters
 -> with no need for a heater.
 -> Used in high radiation environments where solid state would
 -> fry.
 -> Likely used in some military EMP hardened stuff too.
 -> Wonder how many kids today even know what a tube is outside a picture
 -> tube? That too it seems is destined to go exticnt in the not
 -> too distant future.

 TW>  I don't know about that. Did you know that there are Computer Mothewr
 TW> Boards out there with Vacuum Tubes on them.

I had not a clue.
Some claim a softer sound due to the nature of the distortion produced
on clipping by bi-polar transistor versus tube _sound_ and I agree
with them to a point.
However I see no reason a well designed FET transistor amplifier
should perform any less well.

 TW> They are the amplifiers for
 TW> the on board Sound Chip.
 TW> And Vacuum Tube amplifiers and preamps are still avaialble for Audio
 TW> Purists. Many tubes by the way are still being manfacturered in the Old
 TW> Communist Block Countries. Check    www.taylortubes.com   for avaialble
 TW> types.  Most of course are Commercial Communications/Ham and Industrial
 TW> tubes but you should see a few fimilar numbers.

Those tubes are of extremely poor quality and of the resellers in
the states I understand the better of them toss several tubes
shipped in for each they offer for sale so they command a premium price.
 
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5