Beyond Ayre Pass and Rowland


What would it be? Transistor or Hybrid. This is a general discussion.
I heard that Gryphon and Ypsilon qualify but I didn't audition either. Lamm hybrid does too, I believe.
inna
A number of years ago I read a review in Stereophile or The Absolute Sound of the Ypsilon preamp. The reviewer was almost shocked by what he called an incredible sound above anything else he'd heard before. Don't remember what power amp and speakers he used.
Oh yeah, no mentioning of MBL, Goldmund and CH.. amps either. Again, never heard any of them.

Inna, in the "real" world, this is what I'm looking into. While I want the best "tube" pre amp I can possibly swing, I know that a really good solid state amp will give you a lot of the tube thing, when you have a killer tube pre amp.

   
This Vincent Audio SP 331 Hybrid Power Amplifier; 150 watts at 8 0hms, and 300 watts at 4 ohms. Since I'm running my speakers at 4 ohms now, I would be able to use that.


         
          http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VISP331



I think they would let you audition this amp, with the usual provisions.



Enjoy the music.
Absolare! A couple of days ago I listened to my friend's system with an Absolare amp and preamp. Previously he had the Jeff Rowland 725 mono-amps. Wow, not even close and I own a Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amp. Of course the Absolare is about 90K more, but WOW!