The best amp for $2k tube, solid state or hybrid

Valve Audio Predator.

Music Direct has a b-stock unit (it's a demo) for sale for $1999 right now. I picked up a used one off another Audiogon member for $1800 and it truly is a great amp. Takes away the sterility of bad recordings but still maintains excellent clarity. It blows away the Simaudio Moon I-5 it replaced.

here is my suggestion:

create a list of all amplifiers within your price range and listen to as many as possible.

the opinion of others is not a predictor of your attitude towards a product.

get the facts and decide for yourself. listening to a component will educate you, while listening to an opinion without your own personal experience, will not.

if it's out there, listen to it. it's time consuming, but it reduces the rsk of making a mistake.

I read some reviews on the VK500. Allot feel it is dark sounding. The Belles may be more my thing. I like clean treble as long as it doesn't make my ears bleed. The class D amps are working really good with the ProAc One Sc clone I built.

Valve Audio Predator is an integrated amp. I just want a power amp. Thanks though.

I do need to go and listed to some amps. We need some better audio clubs so we can listen to others systems that are local. I am 30 miles north of Philly any local clubs?

Following Mrtennis' advice above will result in the best possible choice for each listener.

I think the "Try it for yourself and/or in your system, preferably" disclaimer should be a banner ad at any audio forum website. it goes along without saying it of course. Duh!

It is the obvious answer to about 80% or more, of all the questions ever asked regarding component matching or upgrading. It seldom goes with out being said at some point, by someone who likes to underline the obvious as a pearl of wisdom.... as good advice as it is I just cringe when I see it. I'm also guilty of making it's mention in the past or as a last resort.

Without local facilities for auditioning or facilities which will not allow said auditioning, or a ton of frequent flyer miles, questions like this need to be asked. Perhaps in part to formulate some sort of short list, cull the heard, or simply to see what other's have experienced as food for thought.

For example, I never found the vk 500 dark sounding. Dark to me means less detailed and resolute. I got more "they are here" with that amp in my system then, than I have with any other SS amp I've owned. So I can't account for those notions. Everyone I've spoken to who has owned a vk500 w/BP that sold it to move on and try out some other amps, has always said they wish they hadn't sold it, myself included. So that's something, I think.

Not to digress... Sure enough the "Audiogone buy and try shuffle" works too. Maybe it comes down to merely asking these "What's best" questions so as to attempt to do less shuffling later.

Asking such questions, and then going on responses here has certainly worked better for me these past few years... like as not, I haven't acquired the perfect match at any given aspect, however I am very well pleased with my choices going this way... thus far. It's sure saved me from installing a loading dock and turnstile in front of my home.

At the level of many of the components tallied here, good to very good is an easy enough task to attain. Excellent isn't very much harder, usually it's just more expensive.

The pickier one is the more time, $$$, and frustrating this hobby becomes.

Perfection is a myth in an imperfect world.

Good luck.