2. amps-preamps
  3. 162633-147523

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
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Am I right that the hybrid should have the warmth of the tube amps and the bass of SS? So, the best of both worlds?

Its a little more complicated than that. The finest tube amps have excellent bass, better than a lot of SS to my ears. Better power, better slam, better dynamics. Way, way, way better palpable presence. The best amps, tube or solid state, they draw you in. The last thing they do is fatigue. Anything that does is by definition undesirable. The whole point is to want to listen to music. Wanting to stop listening to music, what fatigue does, is the exact opposite.

If you want to buy by design then why the baby steps? Why not go the Full Monty? Decware zero feedback all triode.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,784 posts
 
Am I right that the hybrid should have the warmth of the tube amps and the bass of SS? So, the best of both worlds?
Brightness is caused by distortion when it comes to amplifiers. This is why so many traditional solid state amps have sounded bright over the last 60 years- its not a trivial matter although it is treated that way. Quite literally its why tubes are still around! If I were you, I would consider going to separates rather than an integrated approach, and then use a tube preamp and sort out what sort of power amp is going to do the job for you.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
The description of your room makes me suspect that issues there at least need to be sized up properly before gear changes. I have very low ceilings and they helped eliminate a lot of speakers -- and I knew it was not the speakers fault. But if you don't have low ceilings, there is a lot you can try to see if you can mitigate those headache-producing highs. Once you hit some limits in how much better it's getting, you can reassess how your current amp works or doesn't and then move ahead with gear changes. I'd just hate to see you buying more gear and then realizing later that the room is still the main culprit.
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,497 posts
 
I have never heard ONIX loudspeakers but the web says they are 88db efficient and warm sounding. I think I would dump the tubes and go solid state, maybe a Musical Fidelity integrated. Low efficiency and warm loudspeakers don't really cry out for tubes. 
soundchasr OP
159 posts
 
@russ69 
How would the Musical Fidelity compare with the Yamaha AS801?

@hilde45    
I'll throw some comforters and pillows around this weekend and see what happens.  
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