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Why is the GLOW sound so detailed and full? 

We have eliminated unnecessary “bells and whistles” to minimize the amount of circuitry impacting the signal. The signal has to travel through fewer stages, and requires less negative feedback, than with the typical transistor amplifier. The result is a pure, realistic sound…. the sound of the music…. with the detail, resolution and dynamics for which good tube amplifiers are famous.  If you want to hear what others are saying about the GLOW sound, take a moment to peruse the testimonials in the "GLOW Community" section.

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Vacuum tubes and full range drivers? 

We are passionate about good sound.  It is regrettable that, while the digital age has brought so much wonderful technology to our fingertips, the sound quality of computers, MP3s and many home theater systems is nothing close to high fidelity. By taking a step back and a hard look at some of the fundamental assumptions in the audio industry, we have concluded that much of what is marketed to the consumer works against the goal of achieving true high fidelity sound.

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How does the GLOW amplifier make digital music files sound so good?

GLOW tube amplifiers are unique in providing plug and play USB connectivity. And, it is very easy to hook an iPod or other portable digital music device directly to a GLOW amplifier. When the GLOW amplifier plays a digital source, even a compressed source, something amazing happens... the harsh, one dimensional digitized sound comes to life!  No, the tube amp cannot "repair" the compressed digital file. The fact is, much of the original musical content has been lost as a result of the compression process. But, the tube amplifier does bring out the best of what is left, imparting air and depth and space that otherwise may not be reproduced by a transistor amplifier. You have never heard an iPod sound as good as when it is played through a GLOW system! 

 

 

 

 

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As for “surround sound”, it is our belief that stereophonic sound is the best way to create a natural sounding center stage effect for recreating a musical performance, simply because it does not need complex sound decoding circuitry that more often than not only serves to muddle the sound. 

 

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How can the little GLOW Amp One sound better than transistor amplifiers that have 100 or more watts per channel?   

 

Transistor watts are cheap. You can buy a 100 watt receiver for a few hundred bucks at most any electronics outlet. But Big Name audio power ratings are NOT a reliable way to determine how an amplifier will perform.

 

A useful analogy is to compare a complex musical signal to a winding mountain road. Which would be better suited for such a road.... a small, well balanced sports car, or a monster truck? Sure, the big truck's massive engine can produce more torque and more horsepower, but does all that power allow it to navigate the mountain road with the same ability as the sports car?

Power rating tests are conducted with a stable, non-musical signal, usually from a white noise generator with a constant 8 ohm load.  This is not music. Unlike a white noise signal, music provides a much more complex signal for an amplifier to recreate, presenting a varying, and not a constant, load.  In short, the wattage ratings of the typical Big Name amplifier tell you nothing about how the amplifier really sounds when it tries to play music. While a transistor amplifier may test better, a well designed tube amplifier will SOUND better.

We like to think of our diminutive amplifier as the audio version of a sports car, well suited to faithfully reproduce even the most demanding musical passages.

 

 

 

 

 

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Simply put, our amplifier works best with sensitive (efficient) speakers.  Click here for additional information on what speakers to use.

 

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I find myself listening to my GLOW Amp all day, what makes it sound so smooth and mellow?

 

Another often noted advantage of the sound of a good tube amplifier is the minimizing of “listening fatigue”. The fast transient “attack” that is characteristic of transistor amplifiers may sound impressive at first, but with extended listening can produce fatigue.  Many analysts have attributed this to “transistor hash”, the tendency of transistor amplifiers to produce higher amounts of odd order harmonic distortion, and the tendency to emphasize sharp transients.  Because we have eliminated the transistor hash, you can listen to your GLOW Amp One for many hours at a time without the slightest listening fatigue.

 

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How long can I expect my GLOW tube amplifier to last? 

 

GLOW tube amplifiers are built to last. Typically, Big Name audio components are mass produced.  Made primarily of plastic and displaying a generic “black box bristling with buttons” look, such components are often obtrusive in size and difficult to set up and operate. And it is often not long before you start noticing switching distortions induced by the very controls and switches that are ostensibly supposed to "improve" the sound and for which you paid good money.  Our elegant looking alternative is built within a sturdy steel chassis, not plastic. It is engineered to provide a long life, and is simple to set up and to operate.

 

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How often will I need to replace the tubes, and where do I get them?

The tubes provided with GLOW amplifiers are quite rugged and will typically last for years. The type of tubes used are abundant and can be ordered from GLOW AUDIO, or from any of a number of web based tube suppliers. If your local music store sells guitar amplifiers, it will likely carry these tubes.

And, while a faulty transistor in a typical transistor amplifier is not easy to replace and would require a service technician to fix (often at a cost exceeding the value of the amplifier), the tubes in a GLOW amplifier are inexpensive and easy to replace yourself. If you can change a light bulb, you can change a tube!

 

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GLOW amplifiers are assembled in China.  Does this make GLOW products any less reliable?

The simple answer is NO.  The fact is, most Big Name audio companies manufacture some or all of their products in China. Most laptops are now assembled in China, as are many of the most innovative products available to us today, such as iPods, cell phones and other devices.  

We are fortunate to have retained some of the very best tube audio engineers in China.  We maintain a presence in China, to assure consistent quality.  

Each and every GLOW amplifier is tested at the factory to verify that it meets our specifications.  Each and every GLOW amplifier is then TESTED AGAIN by an independent testing firm retained by GLOW to make double sure our standards are met.  Prior to every shipment, we receive and review the full quality inspection reports that detail how every single unit performs.  No unit is shipped if it does not meet our specifications. We want you to be as confident as we are that the product you receive is of the very finest quality.