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Tube Amp for Martin Logan Speakers

Hi, I love tube sound through my Martin Logan Aerius-i fronts and Cinema-i center. I currently have a Butler 5150 which is a hybrid, but it busted on me and would cost $700 to fix. I've had china stereo tube amps that were pretty good and gave true tube sound, but not enough drive for higher volumes. I live in condo, so not like I can blast music anyways but still. I got the Butler because I wanted 5 channel tube sound for home theatre (The piercing sound from my Denon 3801 receiver was not pleasant to my ears). It appears there are only three multi-channel tube amps around, from Mcintosh, Butler 5150, and Dared DV-6C. The latter two are hybrids, and the last one was one of the worst tube amps i've ever heard. I have no clue why 6Moons gave the Dared a 2010 award, but maybe it's because it produces only 65W.

So since multichannel tube amps are hard to come by, and they tend to be hybrid, I was thinking maybe it would be best to get three true tube monoblocks to power my fronts. Thing is I wonder if they will be underpowered for my speakers, and not sure which ones are decent for the price. Maybe China made ones would suffice, and they still go for pretty expensive price. I'm wondering if anybody knows of a decent powerful tube monoblock that is affordable, because I can't pay $3000 per block. or maybe best to just repair my Butler. Thing is, I'm not confident that it is reliable. The tubes are soldered in which is weird, and i've taken it to a couple repair guys who both said that the design is not good, because it's very tight inside and more susceptible to being fried from DC voltage areas. it's too sensitive.

Any suggestions for tube monoblocks, even if china made ones? the holy grail for me would be Mcintosh tube amp, but they are hard to come by. Thanks.

smurfmand70
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 
Hi Smurf, your Aerius-is are getting a little long in the tooth too. Maybe you could fix the Butler and then save up for a whole new setup? The new Martin Logans sound really nice.

People recommend the usual wide variety of tube and solid state amps for MLs. Some people swear by ss, others by tube. PrimaLuna make nice monoblock tube amps that many people feel work well with MLs. I don't know if they fit in your budget or have enough power for you, but they would be worth checking out.
mboldda1's avatar
mboldda1
386 posts
 
take a look at the consonance cyber 800 mono blocks.
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Are you sure it's not worth it to fix the Butler?
tonykay
856 posts
 
"Everything you have, you owe to that Butler."
-Oprah Winfrey

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Maybe get a stereo tube amp for your Aerius's and a SS mono amp for your center. I'm not too into HT, but one thing I have noticed is that it is often hard for a center channel speaker to keep up with the L&R fronts. Giving the center a more powerful SS amp may sound better for theater and the tubes on your main fronts will sound better for music.

I had the SL-3's and had no problems with tubes. Yours should be easier to drive than the ones I had. An ARC VT-100 was a great match, but I ended up using my VAC 30/30. If SS is not out of the question, you would probably like a Pass Aleph 0 (if you can find one). A 5 might be easier to find, but its not quite as good. The 3 won't have enough power.
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