Who Makes both Tube Preamps and Solid State Power Amps (non class D)?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by avanti1960, Jul 27, 2019.

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  1. avanti1960

    avanti1960 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago metro, USA
    If one were in the market for a tube based preamp and a solid state or hybrid non-class D power amplifier, it seems as if the choices are limited.

    Of the ones that come to mind-

    McIntosh
    Cary Audio
    Vincent Audio
    Audio by Van Alstine
    Schiit
    ? others ?
     
  2. Morbius

    Morbius Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brookline, MA
    Luxman
    Nagra
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  3. Subagent

    Subagent down the rabbit hole, they argue over esoterica

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    BAT. I think.
     
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  4. Shiver

    Shiver Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Croft.
     
  5. Davey

    Davey NP: CLARAGUILAR ~ Figura (2024)

    Location:
    SF Bay Area, USA
    Conrad Johnson makes both, though their current lineup listed on their site seems to be all tubes. Most of their preamps share the newer GAT topology with a triode gain stage followed by MOSFET output stage for low impedance. But the MF2550 and MF2275 solid state power amps both seem to be widely available still, new and used. Expensive stuff, though :)
     
    macster likes this.
  6. M.R.Collins

    M.R.Collins Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Isn't the PrimaLuna class A or maybe A/B? Wide array of tube amp, preamp and integrated components.
     
    bluesaddict likes this.
  7. John Buchanan

    John Buchanan I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

    Audio Research
     
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  8. spartree

    spartree Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
  9. jonwoody

    jonwoody Tragically Unhip

    Location:
    Washington DC
    Canary though they make their SS amps under the Magnus name but still the same company.
     
  10. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    Don't touch Odyssey with a ten foot pole - worst customer support ever.
     
  11. Dennis0675

    Dennis0675 Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Ohio
    [​IMG]

    Balanced audio technology. This is a VK-30 tube pre amp and a VK-500 SS amp. They have SS and Tube options for both pre and power amps. Very expensive stuff if you buy new but good deals come up used.
     
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  12. Dennis0675

    Dennis0675 Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Ohio
    Interesting, I’ve heard Mat at VPI rave about their products but I’ve never heard them or heard anyone else speak of them. Seems like it might be a very small company with limited staffing.
     
  13. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    Basically one manchild.
     
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  14. BayouTiger

    BayouTiger Forum Resident

    Audio Research has made all three, but they abandoned SS some time ago and dropped their Class D stuff a couple years ago. I never heard the Class D stuff, though I heard good things about it, but I do own a D240 and it is a great SS amp.
     
  15. Ontheone

    Ontheone Poorly Understood Member

    Location:
    Indianapolis
    I always found it interesting that Keith Herron doesn't make a tube amp considering how wonderful his tube preamp and tube phono stage are. He has a Class D amp (M2) to pair with his products.
     
  16. bluesaddict

    bluesaddict High Tech Welder

    Location:
    Loveland, Colorado
  17. Luxmancl38

    Luxmancl38 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester NH
  18. Subagent

    Subagent down the rabbit hole, they argue over esoterica

    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    HiFi Guy and jawaka1000 like this.
  19. bluesaddict

    bluesaddict High Tech Welder

    Location:
    Loveland, Colorado
    No. From what I've looked at they only do tubes. I own a primaluna prologue four (35 watts) and love it.
     
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  20. Slippers-on

    Slippers-on Forum Resident

    Location:
    St.Louis Mo.
    Musical Concepts/ Musical Designs.
     
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  21. M.R.Collins

    M.R.Collins Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Yep, I misread title. I thought either or, not both. But IMO Primaluna is a good option!
     
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  22. avanti1960

    avanti1960 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago metro, USA
    I wish Rogue Audio made a class AB hybrid power amp. Very little user info is available about the Medusa / Hydra for some reason (Class D).
     
  23. BayouTiger

    BayouTiger Forum Resident

    Pretty sure they are the power amp section from the Pharaoh (Medusa), but with the smaller ICE modules from the Sphinx (Hydra). Just as the Atlas is the power amo from the Cronos. I know that i took home a Sphinx and later a Pharaoh and found them to be similar except the bigger amp was much better in every way. I found they to be a bit dark to my taste. Absolutely not at all like my Peachtree which uses a similar ICE module. Tells me that there is certainly a lot in how the module is implemented.

    I wouldn’t trade my Nova for either of them.
     
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  24. Benzion

    Benzion "Cogito, ergo sum" Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Odyssey. He makes a Candela tube pre and a few SS A/AB amps. I'd look seriously at Stratus or Kismet Reference.
     
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  25. Benzion

    Benzion "Cogito, ergo sum" Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    +1
     
    bluesaddict likes this.
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