I own both tube and hybrid amps. I like both a lot and feel that solid state amps have to have tubes somewhere in the chain. Hybrids vary a lot between models. My hybrid Koras sound like solid state in the sense that they are very accurate, precise, fast, and have tight bass. My tube amp is not like that unless it is running efficient speakers (like the top half of my JM Labs). However the advantage of a hybrid over a typical SS amp is the coherence and emotion. Many of the SS amps I've had didn't pull off the emotional aspect as well. But it all depends.
What are your thoughts on hybrid amplifiers?
I have recently set up a completely vacuum tube system and it sounds, well, gorgeous. I was looking at the Pathos Classic One Hybrid amplifier which uses vacuum tubes in the preamp portion, and solid state amplification.
So, to the "tube people" out there, can a hybrid amp preserve the warmth and sound that many of us still think is a function of vacuum tubes, or is it "lost" when the amplification output is solid state?
So, to the "tube people" out there, can a hybrid amp preserve the warmth and sound that many of us still think is a function of vacuum tubes, or is it "lost" when the amplification output is solid state?