It has the potential to embody a perfect blend: the tonal liquidity, presence, and spaciousness of tubes coupled with the power and dependability of solid state. It's potentially an endgame technology.
Still, I have long remained skeptical. I am, I confess, a certain kind of audiophile, a blend of purist and traditionalist. I favor older technologies and simpler circuits. Amplifiers-including integrated amplifiers-should be tubed, input to output. Rectification? Tubes of course. I've even entertained OTL designs-the idea of them at least, though my experiences have been mixed.
Still, my mind and ears are open. Countless hours reviewing for Stereophile have shown me that our technology, though quite mature in most ways, nevertheless continues to evolve. A shuttered mind risks ending up ignored like a derelict amplifier on a shelf in the back of a home entertainment superstore, or languishing forgotten in an audiophile rest home. Because what matters isn't what we think but how the music makes us feel, and this can work both ways, old school or new-tech.
A recent example of the hybrid approach is the EVO 300 Hybrid, which was realized by a unique braintrust. Marcel Croese, who designed the highly regarded PrimaLuna EVO 400 tubed preamplifier,' contributed his touch to the integrated amp's tubed input stage. Jan de Groot of Floyd Design² applied his skill to the solid state output stage. Herman van den Dungen, CEO of Durob Audio, assisted.
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German kitchens, Japanese amps, and Afropop gems
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