Hybrid vs. Straight Tubes


I am serioulsy considering the purchase of a Jolida Hybrid Amplifier, most likely an integrated amp (tube-pre section with solid state power). The amp will be used to drive my Monitor Audio RS6s.

I am after tube sound and coloration.

The advantage of the hybrid amp is the added power at a reasonable cost.

My question is, will I be trading off the tube qualities for added power? And, is the added power even needed to drive my speakers?

Which would be preferable a 40 watt tube amp, or a 100 watt hybrid?

PS: For more details regarding my system, please see my post in virtual systems.

Thanks!
nick_sr

Showing 4 responses by nick_sr

First and foremost, thank you all for the feedback.

I am currently using a Marantz integrated amp with 40w RMS and I have no real complaints about power.

However, in response to Tvad's comment "provided the room is small to medium", I live in an open concept condo, the room were my system is installed is 24' x 24' with 12' ceilings. My listening area takes up about a 1/4 of the space (A photo can be seen on my virtual system). Could this be considered medium?

As mentioned above I don't have in issue per se with the power of my current set up but I was under the impression that to get the most out of your speakers it is preferable to drive them and the top end of power range (120W for RS6).

I have been looking at the Prima-Luna & Rogue amps. But I recently had an opportunity to purchase a Jolida 1501RC for a very good price. I think I'll forgoe the offer and wait to find the recommended amps at a good price. I am also considering the Mystere amps, designed by the same people as Prima-Luna.

One last point regarding the Jolida. When I auditoned my speakers, I tried them with a Jolida 302b in addition to the Marantz PM8003 (70W RMS). The tube amp sounded much better. But I did not have any other tube amps to compare it to.

Thanks again.

Tvad,

I am on leave from work, I will be back next monday. I will borrow the decibel meter we have for measuring the sound level of machinery in industrial environments.

I will post a response then.

Cheers.
In regards to this issue of power.

Today I audtioned a really nice Leben CS600 amp (32 watts). Unfortunatlely price wise it is more than I can afford right now. The dealer had as an alternative CS200 with only 10 watts of power. He claimed that it should suffice for my RS6s...

I don't get it! I used to think that wattage was directly related to volume. I know now that this isn't the case, but what does wattage provide (this seem like a very obvious questions)? How can I know that a given amp will be suitable for speakers?
It's Monday! and I was back at work after 3 weeks off. But the good news is... I did bring a sound level meter home (TES 1350A).

I measured the level in my sweet-spot at the volume levels described below. Each level was measured while listening to various pieces of music (Take 5 Dave Brubeck, and Pergolesi's Stabat Mater - "Quando corpus morietur"). The distance from the speaker to the sweet spot is 3m.

1 - Normal Listening (WAF 10)-> 55 to 65 peak to 70 dB
2 - My Optimal (WAF 6) -> 70 to 82 peaks to 86 dB
3 - Loudest setting "Nick Turn the music down!" (WAF 0) -> 80 to 88 peak at 96

I then took more measurements for the first two settings playing a 1kHz tone and measuring the level at 1m.

Level 1 - 75 dB
Level 2 - 90 dB

So to conclude, Tvad if I understand you correctly with 1wpc I would have just enough power to listen at my optimal level. But since I do not want to be driving my amp at full power constantly a 10wpc would be preferable. 30wpc would provide more power than required.

But the above conclusion is strictly considering the rated wattage and not the dynamic power (point raised by Pubul57). Is there anyway to determine an amps dynamic power from it's specs?