Hybrid tube/ss amps?

Being the lucky purchaser of the cal sigma II dac (from sideshowbob, who BTW is a the most laid back/easy going seller I've come across ), I've got tempted by tubes, well a bit more.

What do folks think about the few hybrid tube/ss amps out there? Not ready yet to go the full tube amp way and also amp would be driving a pair of dyn contours 1.3 mk2.

I suspect getting a tubed preamp would be more sensible, but adding another box is difficult to justify & nor do I have the space.

I've come across the jolida 1501 which has rave reviews us-wise, but sometimes anything with tubes gets +ve reviews. In uk, the RC version can be had for £650 new, & can be imported for a bit less
Also, there's the unison research unico amp.

My budget would be around 650 new or s/h.
Any thoughts on the jolida or other hybrid amps would be appreciated

cheers
sanj

 

my thoughts are don't mix really, either have it all both ways trans. or tubes. There are tranny amps that can sound tubey, and tube amps that can sound like a bad tranny, namely kt88s.

 

Maybe a little sweeping and misguided there LCD

IMO, the quality of a valve amp seems to have as much to do with the transformer as the tube itself. What does a vavle amp sound like then?

 

Also I think that KT88 are better than you do. It's all in the implementation, whether SS or valve.

I do agree with the some SS sound tubey and visa versa though. And I do agree about all one or the other, except convenience re remote control where just about every SS has got oe whilst most valves one don't. (real men don't use remotes )

 

Well, just to muddle things up a bit... I think its far far better to go for a valve pre with a solid-state power.

The Jolida you mentioned is a good amp.... though not hugely exciting.

 

hmm.

Tom be honest, I think the Dyn's you have need power to thrive.

Ive heard them with a warm sounding amp to good effect (a long time ago)..

Difficult to get the power from valve you need on your budget. Or morever, its difficult to get a QUALITY valve sound on that budget, even second hand.

I'd probably stick solid state on that budget if it were me.

From my old favourite the emporium, these sound interesting..:


YAMAHA F2200 professional series power amp 200 watts per channel,big
and heavy with grab handles, gain controls and vu meters 350

THRESHOLD CAS 2 100 watt per channel mosfet power amp, boxed 500


QUAD 77 PRE, carbon with system remote 400

ATC PREAMP, sc2 half width line only, boxed 500


DNM 2 preamp, metal cased but 3 boards, mc 400

DOLAN PM1 canadian high end amp, used to be a stereophile recommended
component,
excellent phonostage with adjustable gain,impedance
etc,CHAMPAGNE FRONT 2500 600


To get quality power from valves, you'd need to up your budget in my humble opo.,.. about 1,500 ish for a pre/pow used.

Chris

 

Ta for the replies so far.

I've pretty much ruled out valve amps for now, in terms of expense and maintenance.

Tube preamp (with ss power amp which I could use my existing integ. caspian for) is tempting, but no way can I add another box - so says the g/f! Also, could I live without a remote control

So the 1-box hybrid tube/ss amp is a possibility.
Otherwise tubey sounding ss amps like the AA puccini se? (though not sure if it could drive the dyns, but I don't play music at room shaking levels)

 

I think you are going to be better off saving up a little more and spending around £1000 s/h for something like a Primare A30 or Sim I-3 to be honest. You are going to need that kind of amp to properly drive the Dyn's IMO.

 

Why? Not that I entirely disagree with you, just interested in your opinion.

 

Sanj, no disrespect to the puccini mate, but some of the combinations mentioned above (and others like them) are IMHO in a different league.

NB If you sold your existing amp, would your budget increase to 850 ish?

Cheers
Chris

 

dare i mention Rotel?

 

Only with appropriate mains treatments

 

indeed

 

Penace: I think a rotel would be a bit too upfront for my tender ears, esp. with the all too revealing dyns.

Bootleneck: Hmm...I was planning to sell my current amp and spend not too much more. But I can see the logic in pushing it up to the 8-900 mark if it jumps to another league. Though, my bank balance is shouting NO! NO!

The Exposure 3010 new is for 800quid, which may be another possibility, if I do go on a spending spree. Any ideas how it compares against the primare?
In essence, looking for that warmish sound that ain't fatiguing, but with the power of ss.

 

why?
you could always bi amp,using solid state at the bottom and valves for the top,and if you take things one step further you could even split the crossover into valve and solid state,but then again youd have to be pretty mad to do that,but it does sound rather nice

 

... in my experience an all valve system can not do rock music. They simply have too high levels of distortion and they sound 'shouty' and too loud at a decent volume. It's not that they don't have bass, or PRaT or anything.. just that they have too much distortion.

Solid state obviously is harsh sometimes and lacks finesse. I have found that a valve pre with solid-state power gives ultra low distortion and keeps the smooth silky finesse of valves. I especially like the treble. I think its something to do with the harmonics.

You have to match the pre with power very carefully though. Personally I am running an active pair of PMC speakers (AML1's) with a 'Ming Da MC-7R' pre-amp. The pre-amp is a very fast sounding one compared to a lot but still have warmth.

Just my 3$ (my 2cence is free!) ..sorry I think that's a lyric from something

 

Tenson wrote,
"in my experience an all valve system can not do rock music. They simply have too high levels of distortion and they sound 'shouty' and too loud at a decent volume. It's not that they don't have bass, or PRaT or anything.. just that they have too much distortion."

You obviously haven't heard many valve systems then

 

Tenson,

Utter bollocks mate, sorry.

 

"you could always bi amp, using solid state at the bottom and valves for the top, and if you take things one step further you could even split the crossover into valve and solid state, but then again you'd have to be pretty mad to do that, but it does sound rather nice"

I've been thinking about this option for a while now, I currently run active speakers using 4 out of the 5 channels on my Rotel 1095. Using tubes for the top end has a real appeal, as does changing the huge Rotel block for a smaller class D/T thingy.

Or as someone else pointed out a tube pre with a SS power can sound pretty good as well. I've heard the Hovland Pre with the Halcros (the big looking H shaped things?) and that sounded really cool.

Hmm so many options......

 

Hi Tenison,

I have to go along with Robbie & Big Tone on this one. It seems you haven't heard many different valve amps. As Lilolee as pointed out, it's all in the implementation, whether SS or valve.

I suggest you read
this thread. Take note of the comments with regards to AC/DC.

There are a number of areas that will improve a valve amp. Power supplies & output transformers are just two of the main ones. To do this, it cost more money.

Like with SS, matching with suitable speakers will give excellent results.


Hi Sanj,

I wouldn't just look at hybrids at that price. I would look at some of the suggestions made. I don't know your speakers but on the face of it it does seem that they do need some driving. You need to have a few dems if possible.

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