Should I got full tubes or stick with hybrid amps?


I currently have a Jolida 1501. I like it but I think I have upgraditis. I originally bought it (hybrid) because I’m really sensitive to highs (get a headache). It’s been good to me and I can listen without fatigue.

To help with upgraditis, I just bought a Yamaha AS801 to try out and although it definitely sounds good and has nice detail it is creating a little fatigue for me. I’m still in the break-in period so this may smooth out a bit.  (I definitely like having bass/treble controls).

Thinking about picking up a full tube amp or another hybrid for comparison. I don’t know much about other manufacturers of tubes/hybrids.

What’s the difference (sonically) between a hybrid and a full tube amp? Any recommendations?

Thanks!!
soundchasr

Showing 6 responses by hobo1452

Well, duh to me! Where does Jolida come from?! Anyhoo, it's still good stuff. 
You seem to be forgetting that those big output tubes have smaller tubes driving them. Those smaller tubes CAN sound harsh and pass that harshness on to the output tubes. I find that it is mostly the new production tubes that can impart harshness, but some NOS can also have those characteristics. If those tubes didn’t affect the tone, nobody would bother rolling them to find the best sound. It should also be noted that tubes for the most part are a lot more finicky when it comes to the speakers they sound best with. 
Tone controls can be the real stumbling block since, for some un-fathomable reason, most designers have decided they are no longer required. Another factor is the type of sound you are looking for. You've stated that you don't like fatiguing highs. Depending on the tubes, even full tube set ups can sound harsh. One unit I will throw out there for you to consider is the Vincent SV-237MK hybrid integrated amp. It has a three tube pre amp stage with a very good solid state amplifier. Two of the tubes are 6N1P-EV's which pretty much don't have many sound changing replacement options. The third tube is a 12AX7 which gives you lots of options to change the sound. Besides bass and treble controls, it has a tone bypass, and something that used to be standard on just about everything, a "loudness" switch. I have owned one for awhile now and it is an excellent sounding integrated. At 150 wpc at 8 ohms, it will drive any speakers with ease.
Also to soundchasr; 
Don't limit your search by excluding chifi equipment. There is some surprisingly good stuff coming from China lately. Before I bought my Crimson 275, I bought a Chinese made integrated tube amp to see if I really wanted to get back into tubes. I started with a Muzishare X-7 that ran four KT88's and pushed 25 wpc in triode mode and 45 in ultralinear. As a straight integrated amp with no tone controls, I found it a little too  neutral for my liking, but using the SV-237MK as a pre amp, it was very impressive. Both the build quality and appearance were exceptional as well. You might be surprised what you can get for your stated budget. The down side is if you have to return it. I got mine through Amazon so that wasn't a problem, and mine arrived in perfect condition and working order. Check out https://www.china-hifi-audio.com/en for ideas and then cross reference on Amazon. If my budget had not allowed me to step up to the Crimson 275, I would have been more than happy to continue using the X-7. 
soundchasr;
The tubes on my SV-237MK are NOT soldered in place, nor were they on the SA-T7. I am not aware of any of their current production equipment having that decidedly unattractive fault! As to price, keep a regular eye on Audio Advisor's site as they do have Vincent open box items pop up from time to time with some decent reductions. Upscale Audio also sells the SV-237MK. There are also rumblings on the air waves that Vincent's stuff is made in China. Whether it's true or not, I couldn't say. You certainly couldn't tell by just looking because the build quality is exceptional. 
One more plug for Vincent. Read all the reviews you can find. Surprisingly, there aren't that many. One thing you'll notice, and the reason that convinced me to buy the SV-237MK, is that there were no bad reviews of it. Most reviewers did the usual pros and cons in their summation, but the cons were never deal breakers when it came to recommending it. It is a superb sounding and extremely well designed and built piece of hifi gear. mesch made a statement that I have seen more than once from other previous Vincent owners concerning "sellers remorse" after getting rid of their Vincent. The only reason I stepped up to a Crimson 275 is because the tube bug bit me and the discretionary cash was available. I was not in the least bit dissatisfied with how my system sounded. Should I tire of it, I will have no trouble going back to the Vincent as my main sonic provider. That's why I still have it.
If it's important to you, it's also well to point out that the SV-237MK runs in Class A mode for the first 10 watts, and that covers a lot of normal listening.