Vacuum tube

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A vacuum tube (also called a 'valve' in British English) is an electronic device which used to be part many electronic devices such as radios, television sets, and amplifiers. Vacuum tubes produce a lot of heat, and they often break. For this reason, in the 1960s, when the transistor was invented, most manufacturers of radios, television sets, and amplifiers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes. The transistor is a type of "solid-state" or "semiconductor" device.

[edit] Use in the 2000s

In the 2000s, vacuum tube devices are rarely used in electronics.

There are still a few places that vacuum tubes are used:

  • Systems which require high-power output or very high amplification, such as Television transmission towers still use vacuum tubes. In a television transmission tower, the antenna output signal is very high.
  • People who enjoy listening to music on high-quality home stereo systems sometimes buy amplifiers which use vacuum tubes to hear their music. Amplifiers with vacuum tubes are much more expensive than amplifiers made with transistors.
  • Musicians who play electric musical instruments such as electric guitar sometimes use guitar amplifiers which use vacuum tubes. Guitar amplifiers with vacuum tubes are much heavier, and more expensive than amplifiers made with transistors.