lattiboy
Well-Known Member
Let me explain.
Monoprice sold a VERY popular “hybrid” tube amp for quite a few years. It was one of the first new pieces of equipment I ever purchased (I always bought second hand until then). At $100 or so on sale, it was an absurdly cool looking if somewhat questionable sounding 25wpc “hybrid tube” amp with astoundingly poor quality control (I went through THREE until I got a correctly working unit!). There was/is furious debate online if the tubes even touched the signal path or were for aesthetics only.
I loved the little ****er and it ran in my office system for a while. Wasn’t critical in my listening and everybody who saw it loved it.
About a year ago they released the “PURE tube” version which is a proper tube amplifier! The confusion is.... widespread.
I’ve been listening to this one for about two days now and I’m VERY impressed. I’ve owned a few tube amps and hybrids over the years and with some modest tube upgrades I’d put this thing up with some much more expensive low to mid-grade McIntosh gear.
I purchase used with the upgraded tube set from the Tube Store which is the pretty good GE 5670 tone tubes and some NOS EL84s of good quality. It’s a $200 upgrade on top of the $300-350 going price of the amp. So, about $500 if you get a coupon.
I will probably do a full review at some point, but I will simply say don’t be scared of the “10wpc” in the specs. It drives my monitor audio RS6 to uncomfortable levels at 50% volume with the tone controls set to flat. No audible distortion.
It’s also built like a tank! 17lbs in a very small case!
Haven’t used the BT or phono and likely won’t, but I’m sure they’re totally in line with the price range.
Also, pretty!!!
Monoprice sold a VERY popular “hybrid” tube amp for quite a few years. It was one of the first new pieces of equipment I ever purchased (I always bought second hand until then). At $100 or so on sale, it was an absurdly cool looking if somewhat questionable sounding 25wpc “hybrid tube” amp with astoundingly poor quality control (I went through THREE until I got a correctly working unit!). There was/is furious debate online if the tubes even touched the signal path or were for aesthetics only.
I loved the little ****er and it ran in my office system for a while. Wasn’t critical in my listening and everybody who saw it loved it.
About a year ago they released the “PURE tube” version which is a proper tube amplifier! The confusion is.... widespread.
I’ve been listening to this one for about two days now and I’m VERY impressed. I’ve owned a few tube amps and hybrids over the years and with some modest tube upgrades I’d put this thing up with some much more expensive low to mid-grade McIntosh gear.
I purchase used with the upgraded tube set from the Tube Store which is the pretty good GE 5670 tone tubes and some NOS EL84s of good quality. It’s a $200 upgrade on top of the $300-350 going price of the amp. So, about $500 if you get a coupon.
I will probably do a full review at some point, but I will simply say don’t be scared of the “10wpc” in the specs. It drives my monitor audio RS6 to uncomfortable levels at 50% volume with the tone controls set to flat. No audible distortion.
It’s also built like a tank! 17lbs in a very small case!
Haven’t used the BT or phono and likely won’t, but I’m sure they’re totally in line with the price range.
Also, pretty!!!