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Is your tube amp really a tube amp?

I use and love the older ARC D70Mk2 tube amp. To many people, this design is a true tube amp...however, ARC uses a LOT of transistors in the circuit. In the "day" a transistor was considered a ss device. Anyone know of a tube amp that uses NO transistors in the circuit...only tubes. I suspect that in my amp, the audio signal passes only through the tubes and not through the "ss" devices ( don't know this for sure)...Therefore, what is a TRUE tube amp...how many of us are actually using such a device ( no transistors or other ss devices whatsoever in the amp), vs. a hybrid...what's the definition of that term in regards to tube gear?
daveyf

Showing 2 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,088 posts
 
A solid state device in the power supply does not mean that the amp is not a true tube amp.

An example would be a Dynaco St70 or a Harmon Kardon Citation 2.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,088 posts
 
A hybrid amp will have semiconductors in the signal path.

Some examples: The MOScode, Berning ZOTL, some of the old Counterpoint stuff, some of the CJ stuff.

So this is an easy thing to spot. To flip the coin over, anyone making the claim that the H/K Citation 2 power amp is a hybrid because it has a semiconductor power supply would get laughed out of town.
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