Butler Audio 5-Channel Tube Amp

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited January 2006 in Electronics
Anyone ever get a chance to hear one of these?

http://www.butleraudio.com/tdb5150.php

It was reviewed in the latest edition of Home Theater Magazine. They make a 2-channel version, too.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
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Comments

  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Specs wrote:
    • Rated Power (all channels driven):
    5 x 150 Watts RMS per channel @ 8 ohms
    5 x 225 Watts RMS per channel @ 4 ohms
    • Freq response: 20Hz to 20kHz (+/- 0.5dB)
    Power Bandwidth: -3dB, 50kHz
    • THD: <0.10% @ 8 Ohms, <0.15% @ 4 Ohms
    • S/N Ratio: Better than 110dB (A-Wtd)
    • Slew Rate: 15v/µsec
    • Input Sensitivity: 1.5V for 150 Watts into 8 Ohms
    • Input Impedance: 47k Ohms
    • Idling Consumption: Approx. 120 Watts
    (Approx. 1A @ 120VAC or 0.5A @ 230VAC)
    • AC Consumption (Nominal power):
    1200 Watts @ 8 Ohms - 10A (120VAC), 5A (230VAC)
    1800 Watts @ 4 Ohms - 15A (120VAC), 8A (230VAC)
    • Dimensions: 17"W x 16"D x 8.5"H w/feet (7"H w/o feet)
    • Weight: 48 Lbs. (19.2Kgs.)

    Wow. Now that's some amazing specs for a piece of tube gear. I think I'd be real interested in hearing opinions on this technology. Is this a relatively new piece? Is it still considered tube or is it a type of hybrid design? 150 watts...into 5 channels...with fr of 20Hz to 20kHz...with less than .10% THD...and a sn ratio of greater than 110....:eek::eek::eek: Wow.
    • Load Independent; Will drive any speaker

    Interesting.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
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    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
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    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Professional celebrity users include Pink Floyd, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Eric Clapton, Elton John, Eric Johnson and hundreds more.

    Wow. That's quite a list of customers.
    Why use Vacuum Tubes in a computerized world? Ask any Music Industry professional. Tubes SOUND BETTER!

    See, cfrizz? Tubes sound better! Now go get some! :p


    I think these amplifiers would be ideal for seeing what tubes would do for the LSi series. Would be interesting to find out. Are there other high-end tube amps out there offering 250watts into an 8ohm load? If so, I haven't seen 'em.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2006
    Hand selected/matched 6SL7GT Twin Triode tubes
    (One per channel)

    Anybody heard of that type of tube before? I personally haven't, but then I've only heard of about 3 or 4 different types, so...:p
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited January 2006
    I believe it's a 5691 variant.
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited January 2006
    It's a hybrid. It's using a nifty design, though. I wouldn't waste it on HT. SACD, maybe.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2006
    The first I've seen of this, & yes quite a star list of customers.

    However, I reserve judgement until someone from here gets one & reports back!

    BTW, how much does it cost & how much does it weigh?

    The only thing from stopping me from getting a 5 channel amp right now, is that they are just too heavy for me to manange!

    I really admire Darla (Wingnut) for managing all of her heavy equipment by herself!

    audiobliss wrote:
    Wow. That's quite a list of customers.



    See, cfrizz? Tubes sound better! Now go get some! :p


    I think these amplifiers would be ideal for seeing what tubes would do for the LSi series. Would be interesting to find out. Are there other high-end tube amps out there offering 250watts into an 8ohm load? If so, I haven't seen 'em.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2006
    Cost is $3,295 and it weighs 48 lbs, so it's fairly lightweight. You can handle it, Cathy. There's a brand new one on audiogon for $2,000:

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1142791175

    Somebody pleeeaaase buy it and report back.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited January 2006
    I was pretty amazed when I read about it in HT Mag this month... Looks like a real nice piece and I'll bet it sounds great.

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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