On 3/7/10 07:46 , Mike M. wrote:
Hello,
How do the old tube type receivers such as the
Hammarlund ,Hallicrafter etc compare to the modern solid state
receivers in performance?


Depends on the radio. There is no hard and fast rule about hollow
state vs solid state. Each operator may have his or her preferences
and prejudices, but it comes down to what you like and how well the
circuitry was designed.

R-390/R392 still stands in legend as the lowest noise floor of
hollow state.

While the higher end Ten-Tecs and W-J stand toe to toe with it in
solid state.

Tube receivers are prized for their audio. Warm, smooth, and
pleasing to the ear. And this can be true.

Then again, solid state audio can be more precise, almost
clinical, and equally pleasing to the ear. It depends on the
circuitry, and what attention to detail is paid.

And it depends on application. A noisier receiver with a good
antenna can easily outperform a better receiver with a mediocre
antenna.

Now, there have been some very good development in receivers
since the end of the tube era. No longer do we have to toy with
phasing on a crystal filter for reasonable selectivity. We can now
select from a range of filters, shift the passband, and engage
synchronous detection to clean up a buried signal.

Similarly, performance over a wider range of frequencies with
excellent consistency is possible with modern receivers than with
vintage boatanchors. In many cases. But certainly not all.

Modern receivers can be far more power efficient, present a
smaller desktop footprint.

But the truth is, that if you select your receiver wisely, and
you apply an antenna that will bring the most out of your receiver,
you can use, effectively, any receiver you enjoy, and achieve the
results you're looking for. Older rigs will take more fiddling, and
there will be thermal drift to deal with. Newer rigs will come up
quickly, stay put sooner, and will require less fiddling to do the
same job.


I am curious about the longevity of the tube radios on the market.
Thank you,
Mike McManus


That's going to depend on the availablity of tubes, mostly. Some
are getting difficult to come by. Some may still be substituted with
more available, or better, tubes. But nearly all tubes are out of
print for RF work. You're going to have to scrounge for NOS. And
sometimes pay obscene prices from scalpers. (Many of whom frequent
these groups.) And some specific components like tuning capacitors
and IF cans are getting difficult to find, as well.

That's not to say that tube rigs are any worse than solid state
in this regard. The most recent generation of AOR rigs is now based
on out of print chips for which there are no substitutes. And
displays for Drake receivers have been drying up for a number of
models. Similarly, many rigs are finding themselves to be of limited
serviceability due to discountinued parts of all types.

Find an SP-325. Ten-Tec doesn't even acknowledge that they built
it. While Fair Radio sells parts and whole subchassis for R-390 and
R-392.

That said, it is generally easier to modify a point to point
wired tube rig for a different tube, or other component, than it is
to modify a PCB based solidstate rig for a newer IC. But, too,
that's not always the case.

So, again, it depends on the radio. And it depends on your
commitment to the receiver of your choice. You'll can always build a
receiving station to fit your needs and the rig of your choice. And
at the same time, you can always find SOMETHING to keep your
favorite rig working, if you ensure you have the technical
understanding, and the tenacity to keep it working.

Once you understand the limitations and the advantages of each,
the whole tube vs solid state thing becomes largely a non issue.

My Drakes and Ten-Tecs sit next to my Hallicrafters and
Hammarlunds. Everyone of them gets a regular workout.