seeking Hybrid Integrated Amp recommendations

Why do you want an integrated with HT bypass? That sounds like a pre-amp. What is being bypassed?

From your other thread it seems like what you really want is a hybrid integrated with a unity gain or fixed gain input.

Jpg1975 - HT bypass means that the signal comes into the pre-amp and passes through to the amps without any change. In the case of an integrated (preamp plus amp), it seems you are using the amps in the integrated, not separate amps, so do not need a bypass. It sounds what you are asking about for is an integrated that has a fixed level input, not a pass through.

Bdgregory - my confusion is why you would use an 2 channel integrated to drive separate amps. If you have separate amps, all you need is a pre-amp. If he truly wants a hybrid amp but wants to bypass the amp section of an integrated when playing movies, that is a different scenario. But, that also means he now has 2 connections to the speakers, one from the integrated and one from the separate amps, which creates another set of problems, unless he has 2 sets of main speakers. Sorry, the idea of mixing the integrated and the separate amps is throwing me off.

Bdgregory - We are in sync. I followed the other thread, although not in great detail. I think it is partially a matter of terminology, but I just wanted to clarify that I do not think he is looking for an integrated with a traditional HT bypass, but rather an integrated with a fixed input.

I have done some reading on integrateds and some do have HT bypass that goes to the internal amps. There is a distinction that some companies make between a unity gain circuit, which passes through the pre-amp to the amp section but has a fixed gain of 1 and a home theater bypass, which is just a direct path to the amp section of the integrated, bypassing the pre-amp section of the integrated completely. (Some have what I am used to - a home theater bypass that passes the signal to a separate external amp, but that is another issue.)

However, I am not sure there are any under $2K hybrids with either type of HT input. I think the $4K Peachtree has that function, but is out of your price range. It also uses a tube buffer rather than an active tube preamp.

David12 - I have a Pathos Classic One hybrid, but I am pretty sure it does not have any sort of HT bypass.

PrimaLuna has a pure tube integrated (Dialogue One) with a direct pass through to the amps. But it is pure tubes, not hybrid. Nice unit, however.

On the pure SS side, Naim is often matched with Totem. The Sttaf would work well with the Naim Nat 5i2 which does have a unity gain input. Don't worry about the 50 watt output. It drives the Sttaf well.

Good luck.