Soundsgoodtome
Headphoneus Supremus
Correct on power being all tube for hp out and hybrid on speaker taps.This is my fIrst experience of not just bad but offensive synergy.
According to their web page the headphone output is pure tube, where as the speaker output consists of a tube pre amp and SS power amp circuit. Seems that you have just experienced bad synergi between the HE-4 and power amp section of the A1.