Integrated amp with preamp tubes

I noticed BAT has a Hybrid. That looks like a top tier piece of gear, might be out of my price range though.

Maybe a used Krell K300i. Sliding bias with class A sound (tubelike warmth)

Unless your speakers demand it - why go with solid state power amp ?

There are two VAC all tube integrated for sale here and on usaudiomart. Yeah, they are more than $4k but might be worth it.

@inna I was just looking at those. You are right, maybe I should be looking a a tube integrated. More choice compared to a hybrid.

Also, VAC sells hand selected new reissue tubes, you won't have to chase NOS ones if you don't want to. I do chase them, though.

You might want to ask the sellers the serial numbers and then talk to Kevin of VAC to see if those units were ever serviced/repaired. Better give him a call, he is very slow with emails.

Vinnie Rossi Brama Integrated.

Preamp tubes .  I do not  think it can be called an Hybrid .

You can choose between SS preamp ot Tubes preamp by pressing one button

An Aesthetix Mimas should be on your short list. Though used, it’s still gonna be higher than the $4k. 

I stayed away from tube amps for forty year... what a mistake it was for me. 

Tube preamp is of course very important, but if you want to fully experience tube sound you got to have tube power amp as well. I just stated the obvious, didn't I ?

I do realize after asking the question, that maybe what I'm looking for is a tube integrated. The VTL it-85 looks interesting, but only if I can find a deal on it.

Seems a tube integrated is pretty pricey, compared to SS. Keep the recommendations for a tube integrated amp coming.

Cheers

@inna 

You would think, but no.

There is enough talk about the occasional problem with tubes that make them sound incredibly unreliable. And not enough talk about the greater power per watt and overall sound quality that puts folks off. 

Circle Labs A200 is a great tube front end with SS output hybrid integrated amp. Wonderful tonal purity! This is one to consider if comfortable with a smaller company located in Poland.

John Tucker of eXemplar Audio also makes a great sounding hybrid integrated amp. He lives in TN now and hand makes each one. Nice tube preamp section with SOTA voltage regulation on both the preamp and amplifier portions of the amp. Completely separated power supplies and trannys for both preamp and amplifier sections. Top quality parts throughout. His website is dated, but the contact info is still accurate. I own one and think it is very special. $5500 new. This is a steal folks.

There are other hybrid integrated amps with tube preamp sections from folks like Vincent Audio, Modwright, Unison Audio, Pathos, used Blue Circle Audio.  Based on my experience you can spent a lot more for some of these and they won’t sound as good as the eXemplar. 

ghdprentice,

speaking of tube power, by the way, my VAC's 60 watt/ch in ultra linear mode sounds very powerful with my two way 89db floorstanders in 250 square feet room. In fact, you can feel the power even at low listening levels. I like this a lot too.

Pathos makes one.  I know someone who loves his but I have never heard it.  I've also heard this type of hybrid referred to as the "worst of both worlds".  

I am a big fan of full tube.  In fact I have tube DAC.  I have 3 sets of DHTs in series.  

I expect to replace tubes occasionally but hardly ever do.  I do enjoy trying different tubes.  

Jerry

I began my latest audio journey with a Willsenton R8 tube integrated amp. I loved it and the sound. I then decided to go the hybrid route and bought a McIntosh MA 352 - a beautiful integrated. It sounds great, but it does not sound like a tube integrated amp.  I recently ended up with an AVM 6.2 ME - fully solid state integrated. It sounds as warm and inviting as the MA 352 with a bit more detail and clarity. Both the MA 352 and AVM sound great, but neither has the incredible holographic mid range that my friend’s Vac Sigma tube amp brings.  It might be the hybrid design or it might be, as some write in these posts, that modern tube amps have moved towards solid state sound. From time to time I think about selling what I have getting all tubes. Then I listen a bit and love the sound. Not sure if this adds anything other than (1.) I’m not sure the hybrid design necessarily adds what people think it will add and (2.) in the end, it all comes down to personal preference.  

Primaluna EVO series hybrids, Advance Paris, Vincent Audio, Rogue Audio and several more. Some you might have to buy used at your price point. Love Tube amps but they get hot and power tubes are expensive. Hybrids are always a good choice.

I own a Riviera Levante integrated amplifier, which has tubes in the input stage and I'm very happy. It also allows users to choose 30W in class-A or, when more power is required, 120W (into 8 ohms) in "high-bias" class-AB.

Canor Electronics from Slovakia make an excellent Hybrid Integrated Amp AI 2.10.

Canor makes many of the Musical Fidelity products in their factory along with EAT electronics as well as other brands. Many great reviews on their electronics online. Many do not know that Slovakia is the largest producer of autos in Europe - a well industrialized country. Currently no tariffs on their products, meanwhile Chinese brands are affected greatly.

I own a Canor AI 2.10 Integrated.

bunkertoy, I went from full separates ($$$$$) to a brand new Octave V80 SE with their SBB. The system sounds wonderful and I strongly suggest you might want to consider a used one. Plenty of power, finesse and German build quality. best of luck on your quest. 

Here ya go! All tube!

http://rogueaudio.com/Products_Cronus_Magnum.htm

McIntosh, one of the most trusted brands for this has a selection of exactly what you are asking for... https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/integrated-amplifiers

I believe McIntosh has these types of integrated amps. 

Unison (Italian made) makes wonderful hybrids. I owned one, Unico I believe and it was great. Don't dismiss Rogue either, made in the USA, great sound and won't break the bank.....

I've beat the drum several times when this question pops up and I always say check out Vincent. They have several tube/SS hybrids. Upscale Audio is one of the US vendors for this German company. Of all the gear I've bought and sold, my Vincent SV-237MK hybrid is the one piece I've kept and the one I've always gone back to.

Modwright makes an excellent one tube integrated. 

Excellent phono stage and the one tube keeps the rolling simple

Might look at Vincent products. They offer a variety of hybrid units and are in a reasonable price range. 

McIntosh MA252 and MA352 are excellent.

I'd go with one of these:

https://www.galion-audio.com/pages/ts120

https://blackiceaudio.com/integrated-amplifers-1/p/black-ice-fusion-f35-integrated

For something a little different, check out Margules. I really enjoyed when I had an ACRH 3 hybrid. Tube input, SS output. Plenty of power and finesse, a very sweet and musical integrated. 

They are now building an ACRH 4, bigger and better?? 

If you are near Pittsburgh PA, check out Northern Audio, he's a dealer and has an excellent shop and record store. 

The BAT VK-3000SE is terrific and has an actual tube preamp stage as opposed to a tube buffer...

@jl35 I agree, from my research BAT is the real deal. I like that it has an actual tube preamp.

All the other brands mentioned except for Rogue seem to be of the boutique variety.

I'm trying not to get sucked into spending more on a Integrated than my separate Amp/preamp. I might have to search out an older version of the BAT VK-3000. Still looking at all other brands though.

It's interesting getting lots of recommendations of brands I've never heard of. appreciate the info.

I see plenty of Unison Research for sale, might dig deeper into this brand.

Black Ice looks interesting also. Would really prefer balanced inputs on my amp. My DAC performs best outputting a balanced signal.

The Vk 3000SE is typically well under your price point. The newer Vk-3500SE , still current, is more 

https://www.modwright.com/products/kwh-225i-hybrid-integrated/. I have this in my amp rotation. Got it for about half of retail here on the ‘Gon. No association with ModWright.

@moofoo That's a beauty Int amp. Going for about $7800CDN here. I would love to own one.

2 preamp tubes with lots of rolling options. I have a seperate phono pre. 

I always wanted to hear Copland, Danish High End hybrid amps.

In my list of wanted hybrids were Aesthetix, BAT, Heaven, Synthesis, Magnum Dynalab, ModWright, Rogue Audio and of course Mcintosh. They are all pretty expensive. 

Now I own Unison Research Unico SE.

And there are also Vincent, Advance Paris and Peachtree. But I do not trust them because of their marketing - they put a couple of tubes under the glass on a front panel, lighting them up with LEDs, like, Look! We have tubes! We are cheap, but your friends will be amazed! Most of the brands I mentioned before do not need to demonstrate what's inside, they can boast of their sound, you know.

LTA

I really like my Rogue Sphinx, because I really really like my Magnepans. You get the picture: speakers first. But I also think you’re seeing more of this combo of a tube input stage and ss output for power. The Rogue Pharaoh is the next level up from my Sphinx and seems to be widely respected. Having recently gained my first SET triode amp to drive a pair of 95 db speakers in a minimalist family room setup. I can appreciate the appeal of tubes, but I personally would not use one on my Maggies.