Tube Hybrid Amplifiers

A tube hybrid amplifier pairs a vacuum-tube input stage with a solid-state or class-D output section, combining the harmonic warmth and texture of valves with the power, damping, and speaker control of transistors. It is the practical way to get tube character with the muscle to drive almost any loudspeaker, in one chassis, and it sidesteps the extra heat, retubing, and lower power that can come with all-tube designs. Both makers build their hybrids around large linear power supplies rather than switching designs, so the tube stage stays quiet and the output stage stays composed. This collection spans hybrid integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, and preamplifiers from Rogue Audio and Unison Research.

Rogue's proprietary tubeD topology runs a pair of 12AU7 tubes into Hypex class-D output modules in the Sphinx v3, Pharaoh II, and DragoN. Unison Research's Unico line marries valve gain to a MOSFET output stage, from the Unico 90 to the 150-watt Unico 150. For all-valve designs, see our tube integrated amplifiers and tube power amplifiers.