2. amps-preamps
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Integrateds: Warm sounding SS vs Hybrid

I have recently had Bryston B60 and Unison Unico amps. They each had their strengths. Overall I liked the Unico better, its more forward, fuller sound and a wider soundstage, due to its tube preamp. However, I wasn't enamored with the tube hiss I was getting, I realize that there might have been a problem with the amp, but I have read about others having this problem. With no music playing, or very quiet passages in classical music, the hiss could be heard from the listening position6-8 feet away.

I have read reviews of some SS amps where their sound is described as "tube-like".

My questions are:

1) Has anyone who had owned tubed gear heard a SS integrated that sounds like tubes?

2) Was my experience with Unison tube hiss likely due to faulty gear/tubes, etc?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
sandman012

Showing 2 responses by brawny

brawny
51 posts
 
Hi,

"1) Has anyone who had owned tubed gear heard a SS integrated that sounds like tubes?"

Yes, the Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2 or 70.2 are the closest to tubes that your going to get from a solid-state piece. Another warm/tubey sounding solid-state piece is the First Watt F-3, but only puts out 10-15 watts.

"2) Was my experience with Unison tube hiss likely due to faulty gear/tubes, etc?"

It could have been the gain structure of the piece. A high gain structure can sometimes give you a hiss. What is the gain specs of the integrated in question? Does it have 25db to 35 db of gain?
brawny
51 posts
 
Hey John,

A fellow skeptic I see. After reading your response my first thought was that you were a shill for some company competing with Red Wine Audio (RWA). Why else would you be trying discredit or silence the RWA crowd? How's that for a conspiracy theory :) I agree with you that there a lot of shills out there trying to capitalize on the latest high-end audio fad. It's unfortunate. I no longer own my RWA 30.2, but I do believe that RWA offers a unique product line at reasonable prices. If you feel the need to provide a public service warning to Audiogon members about potential shills, then by all means, knock yourself out. However, I doubt that there are many Audiogon members blindly making expensive high-end purchases based upon recommendations by some unknown individual on the internet. I could be wrong though. Take care!
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