Hybrid Integrated Amps: Any Good?

Another vote of confidence, I have the Pathos Inpol2, a 50watt Class A hybrid integrated. I can't recall a better amp in my system.

Another very satisfied Unison Research Unico user here. Don't ask how many different amps I've owned because I can't remember them all. The little Unison just may be the one to end my search. For now anyway.

I have a Pathos Classic One hybrid and very much like it. The idea of a hybrid is not that strange. A lot of people, including myself, run a tube pre-amp with a solid state amp. It gives you some of the tube feeling, without the hassle of a tube power amp. I think most hybrids also try to have a tube like power amp, for example using mosfets, rather than going for highly detailed output. I do not know the Bada, but hybrids are not just a gimmick. Well designed ones really can work.

One thing to be careful of is "hybrids" that have solid state preamp and poweramp sections and a tube buffer. To me these are not really hybrid amps. A tube buffer does not deliver the same sound as a tube preamp. If the spec says you can switch the tube in and out, then it is just a tube buffer. I would stay away from that design.

Loaned once Unico and it seemed to me that I sit in Ferrary driven by asian lady.
I like Counterpoint amps and Joule that seem more like Ford or Chevy driven by Michael Schumacher:-)

I am pleased to see that most of the posts acknoledge the point that a tube input or pre section of an SS amp, does not mean the amp sounds like a tube power amp. The tube effect goes beyond tone, it is the tube's ability to yeild a beautiful 3D soundscape. The SS output seems to flatten the image IMHO of course, YMMV etc.