​Solid State Or Tube Cutting Systems

[00:00:00]Hello everyone. Welcome back to Living Analog Sound Lab. I'm Wyatt Foley. If you're a vinyl collector, you've probably noticed two distinct paths the greatest mastering engineers of all time take to cut their records. On one side, you have vintage tubes famous for warm, larger-than-life bloom like Matthew Luthan's cutting on Doug Sax's system at The Mastering Lab. Or Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound utilizing the legendary chain used by the late great George Marino. On the other side, you have the solid-state purists pioneered by icons like Bernie Grundman and Kevin Gray who both rely on custom-built discrete solid-state systems. Now, many collectors get confused because Kevin uses a custom all-tube system for his own jazz releases on Cohearent Records.

[00:00:55]But for all his reissue work like the Rhino High Fidelity series, he cuts on his highly specialized solid-state system. Here's what's actually happening to the signal path.

[00:01:08]Tubes naturally induce harmonic saturation. They add subtle, pleasing overtones that round off harsh edges and glue the music together. It acts like a beautiful filter. Solid-state on the other hand is built for slam and power.

[00:01:25]Now, you might know that a lot of classic solid-state studio gear actually uses audio transformers to balance the signal. But those transformers can induce subtle phase smear. This [snorts] is what makes Kevin Gray's system so unique. By designing it to be completely transformerless, his signal path acts like a lightning-fast, straight wire from the tape machine to the cutter head.

[00:01:52]This isn't about which system is better, folks. Kevin Gray himself adores the romantic cozy sound of his tubes for jazz, but he will also go on the record saying his custom solid-state chain is the most accurate representation of what is actually on the tape.

[00:02:11]One gives you gorgeous artistic character. The other gives you unvarnished master tape precision.

[00:02:19]They are two beautiful paths to the exact same goal.

[00:02:23]So, do you find yourself reaching for the warm glow of tubes or the fast slam of discrete solid-state?

[00:02:31]Let me know in the comments.

[00:02:33]And don't forget, guys, Steve Westman has started a petition. We can all go vote now. Do you want Led Zeppelin's master tapes coming out of the vault to be reissued by Rhino Hi-Fi series cut by Kevin Gray?

[00:02:49]Well, now's the chance to get your voices heard. Definitely [snorts] go in the description below and get your vote in now if you haven't. This is our opportunity as fans to get our voices heard. Then, Patrick Milligan from Rhino that Steve is connected with is going to bring this to Jimmy Page. We're going to get an answer.

[00:03:10]And um if you want to be a part of the movement, please get involved. Let everyone know. Share that link.

[00:03:17]And definitely follow the Living Analog Sound Lab and Steve Westman, the In Groove by Mike Esposito, and all the wonderful YouTube channels out there right now wanting to value our community.

[00:03:31]This is our opportunity to get a real AAA campaign again for Led Zeppelin. And I hope we don't miss out.

[00:03:39]Anyway, let's keep the signal pure, and thank you for watching. Aloha from Maui.

[00:03:47]>> [music] >> Hey.