A big part of this is what tubes you are running in the input stage of the amp. I have been doing a test with a hybrid integrated from Canor and have swapped in three current production tubes vs. NOS pairs. NOS tubes make a HUGE difference.
In the end, a hybrid will never sound quite as good as a tube amp or integrated but they are capable of being much better their SS or Class D only brethren.
I have had five different hybrid amps in here in the past few months (Two Rogues, a Canor and two AVMs) where I have spent significant time with them. Four were Class D and one is a Class AB. All of them sound very good and in some cases sound very close to my Art Audio KT88 based monos as a benchmark.
It is just essential that they are given adequate burn in time as tubes really need 30-50 hours to sound right at minimum and we have to accept that a $17 pair of Russian re-issues may not deliver end-game sound quality. You are probably going to need to go out and spend a little on decent tubes.
In the end, a hybrid will never sound quite as good as a tube amp or integrated but they are capable of being much better their SS or Class D only brethren.
I have had five different hybrid amps in here in the past few months (Two Rogues, a Canor and two AVMs) where I have spent significant time with them. Four were Class D and one is a Class AB. All of them sound very good and in some cases sound very close to my Art Audio KT88 based monos as a benchmark.
It is just essential that they are given adequate burn in time as tubes really need 30-50 hours to sound right at minimum and we have to accept that a $17 pair of Russian re-issues may not deliver end-game sound quality. You are probably going to need to go out and spend a little on decent tubes.