Tube amplifier or the classic one?
Guitarists know that no amplifier can add tonal coloration better than a tube amplifier, also known as a tube amplifier. These tubes are known for producing a smooth sound in addition to considerable power compared to an electronic or transistor amplifier. In this article, however, we will introduce the so-called a hybrid tube amplifier that uses both tubes and transistors for its operation.
What is a hybrid tube amplifier?
As we mentioned in the introduction, a hybrid tube amplifier combines tubes and transistors. This means that the tube circuits drive the output transistors, and the transistors can generate more power with less heat, so you can rely on them more. In addition, they have semiconductor components such as transistors, FETs or MOSFETs.
In hybrid amplifiers, there is no need for much amplification, but in tube amplifiers, the output voltage created by the tubes must be much higher, because the output transformer reduces it again. That's why all tube amplifiers require multiple tubes, while hybrids can work with just one tube.
Why does it have better sound?
First of all, it should be noted that the resulting sound quality often depends on factors other than the amplifier itself. How one uses it is also important. This is often determined by the type of music, equalizer settings and volume level.
There are hybrid amplifiers with one tube. However, how much "tube" it sounds depends on how strongly the tube is driven. When compressed, it operates in the non-linear region with various types of distortion, including compression and a number of harmonics. This is a different performance than when the tube is operating in the center of its linear region.
The advantage of the hybrid tube amplifier is much greater versatility compared to the tube amplifier. It thus offers a greater range of tones and effects. Another benefit is that a supply voltage of 12 to 48 V can be used instead of > 100 V for the tube amplifier.
However, the disadvantage is its higher price compared to a regular amplifier. It can also happen that neither of the two parts of the hybrid amplifier will be of sufficient quality, so that neither the tube nor the transistor amplifier will sound good. You may also be disappointed by the fact that it weighs a bit more than other amplifiers.
Who is a hybrid tube amplifier suitable for?
If you really can't decide between a tube and a transistor amplifier, you can always choose a hybrid. If you don't like the idea of an electronically emulated tube sound, the hybrid gives you the warmth of a tube amp and the reliability of solid state amps. They are such a great compromise, but only a person with good hearing who listens to specific amplifiers will really hear the difference.
Choose from our range of amplifiers
If you are looking for a high-quality amplifier that will not disappoint you, you will find a really large number of them in our e-shop. If tube amplifiers do not interest you too much, you can choose from a selection of professional (analog, digital) and hi-fi amplifiers that you can use for your home cinema or karaoke. We hope that our article helped you in your choice and we wish you a lot of quality sound.
