turboglow

Butler Audio TD Blue 2150. These are hybrid tube/ss
amps from BK Butler. URL is http://www.tubedriver.com/tdblue.html

HIS4

If you are going to use it as a bass amp for subs only, you're wasting your money. Using it as a bass only amp, you will not hear any differences in sound to a solid state amp. If you are going to be using it for mids/highs, then you may hear a difference, although only a slight one, in sound. The sound will probably be a little warmer but I don't think it is worth the extra money you pay just to have tubes. There is a huge debate about which sounds better, tubes or solid state, in the home audio scene. THe debate gets even more complicated in cars because they sound difference gets thrown out the window by engine noise or just road noise.

I also don't know how long these tubes will last. I say go with a good ss amp and save your money.

Foo

i have seen several butler products (it has been several years though) in the IASCA show scene... they were wonderful. Smooth, warm... lots of power. Unfortunately they were large chasis's and the cost was higher than i would have thought they should have been...
However if you are a true audiophile and you know about tube amplifiers (yes these arent TRUE tube amps) then you will be very happy with the performance and sound you get from them.

Darren

aka Foo

Former IASCA competitor

siberian

I had heard that tube amps are undesireable in a mobil application because vibrations can cause the tubes to fail prematurely. no?

I love the sound of tube amps... looking to get one for my home setup eventually.

turboglow

I'm researching all the various hybrid tube/ss
amps. When I get my PhatBox, I plan to use the
line outputs thru an remote controlled preamp
to feed the amps for the lowest possible distortion. I will probably buy a hybrid tube/ss
amp because tubes amps KiCk ***!
Have not decided on the speakers yet.

I posted a list of all the tube amp manufactures
on the caraudioforum board. If I missed any, let me know.

D Sealy

They have 'tubed' inputs, not an actual tube output stage. They are a regular mosfet amp with clever marketing tactics attempting to convince you that they are capable of recreating that warm tube sound in a mobile environment. I know several people who have/have had them in IASCA, and they liked them. If you want a true tube amp, but a Butler Audio, they are a great tube amp for mobile use, and as far as I know, with the exception of a Blade tube amp that I have never actually seen a working unit of, the only true tube amp for autosound.

Stoney

<A HREF="http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb2/showthread.php?s=a857f8fe5dbfb5cc389301e96607c4ee& threadid=69368">Hybrid and Pure Tube Amps</A>

Hybrid and Pure Tube Amps

by: turboglow

Here's a list of the currently available
hybrid tube/ss amps for car audio systems.

Planet Audio - HVT7100, HVT7150, HVT752 and HVT754
http://planetaudiousa.com/

Butler Audio - Tube Driver Blue 2150 and 475
http://www.tubedriver.com/

Poweramper - X-Power 100T, 200T, 100T.4, 200T.4
http://www.poweramper.com/tube_amp.html

Micro Components - ET-52
http://www.sibatech.co.jp/MCSET52.html

Mark Antony - ESQ Series
http://www.markantony.cc/markesqseries.htm

Hollywood Sound Labs - RHV-40S
http://www.hollywoodsoundlabs.com/

===

Here are the pure tube amps for car audio systems.

Milbert Amplifiers - BaM-235
http://www.milbert.com/

Micro Components - VA-G7
http://www.sibatech.co.jp/MCSVAG7.html

Donovan

I really like mine, however, it was expensive. I have it mated to Dynaudio speakers and they sound great.

go to www.theautophile.com