vacuum tube
Old amplifier component
A vacuum tube is a sealed glass or metal container from which most air has been removed, containing electrodes that control the flow of electrons.
Vacuum tubes amplified electrical signals and served as the basis for early electronics—radios, televisions, and the first computers.
Though largely replaced by transistors and integrated circuits, they persist in specialized applications: audiophiles prize vacuum tube amplifiers for their warm sound, and guitarists favor tube amps for their distinctive distortion.
Three-element electron tube
- pentodeFive-electrode vacuum tube
- tetrodeFour-electrode vacuum tube
- diodeOne-way semiconductor
- cathodeElectrode current exits through
anode · filament · grid · plate · thermionic · electron · rectifier · oscillator
Signal-strengthening electronic device
- preampInitial signal booster
- power ampFinal stage audio booster
- toneQuality of sound
- warmthHeat you feel
distortion · overdrive · gain · fidelity · hi-fi · guitar amp · Fender · McIntosh
Signal-emitting device
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
- frequencyRate of recurrence
signal · airwaves · station · magnetron · radar · shortwave · AM · FM
Evoking recent past
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- classicOf lasting excellence
- collectibleObject worth amassing
restoration · heritage · 1920s · 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · phonograph · gramophone
triode
Three-element electron tube
cathode · anode · filament · grid · plate · thermionic · electron · rectifier · oscillator · amplifier
amplifier
Signal-strengthening electronic device
warmth · distortion · overdrive · gain · fidelity · hi-fi · guitar amp · Fender · McIntosh · headphone amp
transmitter
Signal-emitting device
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
frequency · signal · airwaves · station · magnetron · radar · shortwave · AM · FM · broadcast tower
retro
Evoking recent past
collectible · restoration · heritage · 1920s · 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · phonograph · gramophone · Victrola
- obsolete techfloppy disk, VHS, dial-up modem, cassette tape, floppy disks
- vacuum technologyturbopump, feedthrough, viewport, gate valve, torr
- radioFM radio, crystal set, AM radio, radio station, radio broadcast
- American InnovationEdison, Thomas Edison, Bell Labs, Silicon Valley, Wright brothers
- Analog Eratypewriter, rotary phone, record player, phonograph, turntable
- analog technologyanalog clocks, analog clock, analog computers, film cameras, analog meter
vacuum tubetransistor
Semiconductor signal switch
semiconductor · integrated circuit · microchip · silicon chip · microprocessor