There is a lot to be said for this. I have had good luck using both approaches, but the components do indeed need to compliment each other.
I may have just been lucky so far.
Elk said: Would there be any value in providing direct access to the output stage of the amp for those with a PS Audio preamp?
Ha, that was my next question ;) The preamp and the amp with bypassed input stage - effectively it would be an input stage with a separate power supply and a cable in between.
Will there be two power supplies (for input and output stages) or one "to rule them all"? It would be fun to have then completely separated, e.g. with two power sockets to connect to two different protection zones ;)
That is a fun idea.
Paul McGowan said: I am with you Elk. I could never bring myself to have a visible window for the tubes. It reminds me of a place I once visited in Amsterdam where they had these poor women hookers displayed in windows for the leering eyes of prospective customers. That was just degrading and cheezy and I could never bring myself to do that.
Have you ever been to the "old and usual" part of NL? People here live with uncovered windows, you can see everything what's going on in their living rooms, what creates that specific Dutch "gezelligheid" (virtually untranslatable Dutch word, which can mean cosiness, comfort, convenience, warm social "atmosphere", having fun, etc.)
Fireplaces, the smell of fireplace smoke, coffee and fresh bread, visible tubes, warm tube sound are also very "gezellig".
This place is weird. Alekz and Elk are now agreeing on things. All it took was the prospect of a new hybrid amp… >:D<
Hi Paul,
Any idea how well the new amp will mate with the P-5, will the P-5 be sufficient to power the amp with no compromise?
Thanks
John
As a kid i would go to the porn arcades with friends. I never could go inside , but they all did. My point is lampizator dacs had the tubes inside. For me I did like that. The new ones are outside to show. Seeing the tubes glow is part of this. It should not be to your digression even though it’s yours . Meaning most will want them outside. Now given they might vibrate at some frequencies this would occur inside or out . I do not know how much or any if this is important I placement . Nor do I know the resonant freq of glass tubes. But my two cents is show the tubes . Even if there is a cool semi private cover over them.
Al
stereophilus said: Alekz and Elk are now agreeing on things.
We never disagree. We just talk about different things ;)
Haha, excellent, I’m glad your discussions have started to align.
I've never heard of bias adjustments for input tubes. Do other amps have that feature?
Yep. The AVA FetValve has bias adjustment for the 12AT7s used at the input. Unfortunately it is not user adjustable. :(
I read how Paul's amp is going to do it. Sounds clever!
stereophilus said: Alekz and Elk are now agreeing on things.
We never disagree. We just talk about different things ;)
:-))
Hi Paul,
Any idea how well the new amp will mate with the P-5, will the P-5 be sufficient to power the amp with no compromise?
Thanks
John
Probably has enough power, yes. I would pair it with a P10 though, only because I think the P10 sounds better than the P5.
I was wondering if there is any new projected date for for the amp? I realize Paul & Company have been busy with the stupendous DS and kits (really enjoying mine) but any update would be appreciated.
Agreed. Things have been very quiet on that front. Understandable given everything that’s bee going on but we’re greedy (for information) bastards so … ?
The boards have been built. The input board, with the tubes, came up quickly and Bascom connected it to the front end of an existing amplifier he already had (and had designed) and almost fell over with how good it sounded - so good in fact he couldn’t remove it and there it sits to this day. That one can add something in front of something else and improve the sonics significantly is a major achievement, better than we could have hoped for. Bodes well for turning that into a preamp. 
On the power amp output stage Bascom ran into a number of problems, one of which blew the thing up. That’s as far as it’s gotten. Looking hopeful.
Thanks for the update. I take it the prototype did not blow Bascom up along with itself. I’d also prefer that my amp not blow up once I get one, a feature (not blowing up) I highly recommend in general. 
I always smile when I read about the statement saying ‘All electronic gear run on magic blue smoke, because the moment you open the lid and let the blue smoke escape, the unit stops working’ 
It is the same technology in high performance engines.