A beginner's tube amp to drive a pair of fostex Fe103e

[50AE]

I'm searching for a first project tube amp to begin with and I seem interested by something hybrid. Why? Well, because my budget is very limited now and hybrids seem cheaper in therms of power output at lower impedance. No need for expensive output trannies and big tubes, just small preamp bulbs and mosfets.

I will be driving Fe103e. Each speaker is rated at 5W nominal power.

So I need something hybrid to begin with. Preferences:
-Class A
-No output coupling cap
-Simplicity

By the way, how do the hybrids compare to 100% valve amps? Will I still get this nice soft attack, bass and cool guitar string sounds?

[MrSlim]

It's not a hybrid, but its a decent price (I'm not affiliated..) Cheap 6P3P SE Kit (with case)

[GloBug]

That's a hell of a good advice.

$136?? Great deal.

Though I'm sure hybrids may sound nice, there is no substitution for the real deal.

That's why there are so many people clinging on to an "obsolete" technology.

I am of the "Solid State" generation, I grew up with it, I told my self my SS amp was good enough and tubes could be simulated by SS.

I finally gave up and jumped balls deep into tubes and have not looked back. You won't regret it.

[Richard Ellis]

This unit at $136 is a great deal...........It can be an optimum "starting point" or just run it as is..........or, one can drop that amount($136) into just ONE new output transformer......You could easily triple the costs by getting a "high tech" OPT.....with incremental improvement in sound.

__________________________________________________ __Rick........