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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Pure tube or hybrid?
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Message started by flargosa on 04/25/19 at 19:18:18

Title: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by flargosa on 04/25/19 at 19:18:18

Do you guys go pure tube or do you hybrid your components? Maybe tube pre with solid state power amp or vice versa? What is your preference?

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Lon on 04/25/19 at 19:22:11

Tube all the way!

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Tal on 04/25/19 at 20:34:49

All tube except for a Schiit Saga pre, which is tube hybrid. I purchased the Saga to see if a pre improved anything, and the Saga is an inexpensive option to "test the water". Also the Saga matches my Schiit DAC. I may eventually purchase a CSP3

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Palomino on 04/25/19 at 20:41:34

My DAC serves as a pre so I guess hybrid.

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Melvin on 04/26/19 at 13:55:24

I don't use a pre with my SE84UFO and my DAC has tube output stage. As pure as I'm gonna get.

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by slop on 04/26/19 at 17:53:33

I like my lta MZ2 in front of my zen UFO. It slightly betters the sound/soundstage and the 3 volts it outputs, is very welcomed by the amp.

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by HockessinKid on 04/26/19 at 18:03:29

Pure tube for my system, less my digital side (PC, CD transport & DAC). But everything routes through my CSP3-25 preamp and ZMA amp.

HK

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by flargosa on 04/27/19 at 03:15:45

Does a tube preamp with ss power amp sound like a tube amp with more power or does a SS power amp take away the some of the tube sound?

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Doug on 05/08/19 at 19:17:23

For the past few weeks I have been driving my SS LFD NCSE with my CSP3 25th preamp. This combo is delivering the most beautiful music imaginable.

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Doug on 05/08/19 at 20:19:24

Just re-read your question. It’s possible, as in my case (LFD NCSE), that a SS amp can have more of that euphonic “tube sound” than a tube amp. It’s my opinion, after owning and using 3 Decware amps, that they do not have that traditional “tube sound.” Instead, they resolve detail like it’s nobody’s business, they are super clean and fast, and they present a massive soundstage with superb imaging. I don’t think many have described Decware amps as having a warm tube sound that we all know.

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by Tommy Freefall on 05/09/19 at 20:40:21

Has anyone tried pairing up a Decware tube preamp – say a CSP3 – with one of Nelson Pass’ First Watt SS amps?
If so how did that work out?
Are those two compatible?
Is that a satisfactory combination?

Title: Re: Pure tube or hybrid?
Post by armstdav on 05/10/19 at 05:24:30

I didn't own any Decware back then, but I spent a period of a couple years with an F4 clone and a couple different tube preamps. The F4 was pretty transparent so it basically transmitted whatever the preamp was doing; with the Wright WLA12A it was warm and tubey and with the Jolida Envoy it was fast and detailed. Having subsequently owned a CSP3, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.