Stereophile: Hybrids Are Hot

"Recent advances in solid-state output devices and other components have opened up design possibilities never previously available," Audio Research's Terry Dorn explained. "And that led to our developing the Hybrid Drive HD220 stereo power amplifier ($8995)."

A JFET input feeds a 6922 dual-triode gain stage, which, in turn, feeds a 6H30 dual-triode cathode follower. That signal goes through ARC's proprietary coupling caps to the amplifier's 24 Thermal Trak bipolar output devices (12 per channel), achieving 220Wpc. Thermal Trak output devices automatically adjust their internal bias in response to their operating temperature, which, Dorn assured us, delivers "extremely consistent" performance no matter how hard you push the amp.

A short demo suggested that the HD220 might be a monster—especially in the bottom end.

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Reader Comments

Posted Sat Jan13, 2007, 9:36 AM — By Hasse

Did anyone hear the new HD220? What were your impressions? Did they mention anything about how it stacks up to their tube amps?

Posted Sat Jan13, 2007, 10:20 AM — By Jon Iverson

Wes and I listened to it for a few minutes in the setup pictured here. As with any show audition, you only get a sense of the products on display, and how the vendor was able to work the room - but the AR demo sounded wonderful, and would be worthy of a closer listen.

Posted Fri Feb 9, 2007, 9:53 PM — By Ronaldo Franchini

Based on his heritage, the HD220 will show its best virtues when introduced to the market next March. Certainly it will be a very good surprise to the audiophile community

Posted Sun Oct26, 2008, 12:22 PM — By Bugs bunny

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