Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Hybrid amps with Axiom M60v2s

Hello all, been a while since I've posted here but I'm thinking about changing my system and wanted to see if I could get any feedback from the forum members.

I currently have the Axiom M60v2s for FL and FR. I use an Emotiva RPA-2 (200W @ 8 Ohms) to drive them while using my Denon 3808 to drive center and 2 surround channels. This system sounds very good to me but I'm one of those people that always wonders "what if".

I've been reading about tube amplifiers and everything I see talks about how warm and wonderful they sound. One reviewer was using a Primaluna Prologue 5, which is all tube stereo with 36W/channel and he states that when he removed his 200W amp he thought "no way could this 36W tube amp work in his system" but says that it plays much louder than he would actually listen to and sounded better than his solid state amp.

I've become somewhat interested in some hybrid amps and in particular the Vincent SV-236 MKII which has a combo of solid state and tubes and is rated at 150W/channel @ 8 Ohms.

I guess to make a short story long I need to know if anyone uses tube amps or hybrid amps or has at least listened to one or the other with the Axiom speakers and if so what are your impressions. On some but not much music my M60s sound a little bright and I was wondering if a hybrid or tube amp would avoid that.

Also would it be possible to biamp the M60s using the Emotiva RPA-2 to drive the woofers and the tube or hybrid to drive the mids and tweeters?

Any and all responses appreciated

I would send a PM to 2x6spds he uses/prefers tube amps or just wait, he should be along sometime.

Bobby, if any amplifier, tube or otherwise, sounds more "warm" than the source material, it's either not well-designed for sonic accuracy or is defective. The very essence of high fidelity is to not add a sonic coloration to the material, and the technology is well-known for designing both solid state and tube amplifiers to meet that standard.

I think everyone will agree that tubes sound different than solid state. Who is to say which is more accurate? Because tubes sound more warm does that mean that solid state is more accurate? Maybe the ss is coloring the music by not reproducing it correctly. I mean who says the ss reproduction is actually the correct reproduction. Maybe the tube reproduction is what is closest to what the original sounds like. Why is it assumed that the ss is the correct sound but the tube actually sounds better when listening to the source. Personally I think I would like the one that is more pleasant to listen to.

Now I might be wrong on this but I seem to rememeber some studies which stated that when a signal is sent through a tube amp and then looked at on the output side, there is some minor distortion and the signal is not exactly the same as it was when it went in to the amp; unlike a good solid state amp which outputs the signal just as it went in. This would mean the SS amp is the correct reproduction of the signal once amplified.

Which is more pleasing is up to the individeual listener but which is more accurate is measurable.

I really like my solid state setup but haven't had a chance to really listen to any modern day tube amps. It's a little confusing when most of the magazine and online reviews seem to be so positive about the tube amps and even the hybrid amps, about how they sound warm and the soundstage if engulfing and huge. SS fans say that the tubes put a little coloration on the music so you aren't hearing exactly what is coming from the recording.

Does one really want to always hear what is exactly recorded? I kind of look at it like this, sometimes I have food on my plate and it is exactly the way it came off the grill or whatever. If I add a little salt it's now not exactly the way it came off the grill but it tastes better to me than the original.

I was hoping an Axiom owner that uses and has used a tube or hybrid amp would be able to tell us of their experience.

I appreciate you guys throwing in your 2¢ worth.

Keep in mind that Axiom's design philosophy of striving for accuracy is based on a lot of research -- especially double blind listening tests -- that points to the conclusion that pretty much everyone finds accurate sound to be the most pleasing.

Just to play devil's advocate, the only problem I have with that research is that they coach people on what constitutes good sound quality. I'm just wondering how different the results would be without instructing people on what to listen for.

I am thinking like you. When I see reviewers replacing 200W ss amps with 36 to 40 W tube amps and talk about how much better the soundstage, etc. is, it pushes my curiosity into high gear. Since I don't have any high end audio shops around here that actually carry tube amps I look for input from my fellow forum members