3 channel tube amp for home theater?

Despite Butler's affinity for adjectives, their three and five channel amps look very interesting.

Setup:
If I used a five channel amp, does the Home Theater Receiver get replaced with something like a Home Theater Preamp/Processor? Does such a thing exist?

Mixing tube monoblocs and solid state:
Does anybody use a Home Theater Receiver to power the center, rear and subwoofer; and use tube monoblocs to power the front left and right channels? If so, how do you output the proper signal voltage to the monoblocs from the Home Theater Receiver if it too is an amplifier? In such a component, can you bypass the amplification stage and just make use of the preamplification stage for front left and right channels, thus getting the proper voltage to the tube monobloc inputs?

Thanks for your help. Good ideas so far. Jeff

ps. happy new year... daylight hours are now getting longer.

"If I used a five channel amp, does the Home Theater Receiver get replaced with something like a Home Theater Preamp/Processor?" Yes, many with more coming next week at CES.

" If so, how do you output the proper signal voltage to the monoblocs from the Home Theater Receiver if it too is an amplifier?" You use the line-level preamp outputs. If your AVR does not have them, then replace it with a pre/pro.

" In such a component, can you bypass the amplification stage and just make use of the preamplification stage for front left and right channels, thus getting the proper voltage to the tube monobloc inputs?" See above. All such devices have balance procedures and controls for this.

Consider finding a general information resource about HT as your questions indicate you could benefit from such. I believe that Audioholics has such.

Kal

Jj2468

Kr4 said it for you.

My take is similar.

RE AMPS
I'm going to add in my mono block tube amps to my HT temporarily for use as the front main ch speakers, via the the preamp outputs on my HT receiver. it only costs one pair of ICs, and the tube amps aren't getting much if any playing time anyways.

RE Need a processor?
ultimately many do go that way as along the path they wind up adding amps to their system, and at that point the jump is a smaller one. Rather than going all in up front on all separates for HT.

Solid state is a choice as well… but with HT rigs, it FITS fine. HT, movies and TV, have enormous and swift changes in sound levels, and some really odd non musical events taking place all the time during viewing events. SS is quite adept at these odds and ends and it comes off more crisp sounding than what one might expect from the sound tubes supply, in general.

Albeit, either way it can merely wind up being one’s preffs… or simply using what one has on hand at the time. If one doesn’t mind sacrificing some of the snap, pople and crack you will lose with Tubes, by and large, then by all means… use tube amps for your HT system.

... BUT THERE'S NO LAW SAYING YOU HAVE TO WIND UP WITH A HIGH END MULTI CH PRE/PROC. $$$ USUALLY DETERMINES WHICH WAY WE GO... THAT AND PREFFS.

NEITHER IS THERE ANY LAW SAYING USE ONLY THIS, OR USE ONLY THAT METHOD… IMO SS is more the way to go for HT if possible.

You may want to think about having two separate rigs. My joy is more from stereo than from video. Consequently, my 2ch system get’s more attention and $$$ thrown at it than does the video affair.

My recommendation would be for anyone to put together the rig they want most first, and go from there. If you can afford to do both at the same time, think about a
Preamp with HT bypass on it. That item and one added pair of ICs and you’re set…. Provided all else is in place. They do make tube preamps with HT bypass features so your 2ch can remain more segregated… except during movies or TV.

Good luck

Great explanations and help. Thank you.

I actually kind of like the idea of sweetening home theater sound with tubes. But, I just like tubes. I'm going to CES and I look forward to checking this out. I'll also check that other website for more education on home theater basics.

I'll probably keep my audio system separate from my home theater system. But, I have friends who like my tube audio sonics and my turntable and would like to go in that direcion. There is no way they want to have two separate systems.

If I could point them to a pair of reasonably priced efficient monitors with WAF factor and a tube amp plus the pre/pro processor and center channel; or tube amp plus a receiver that they could use to power rear speakers too; I think it might provide a tube lover with both good sonics for music (cd, turntable) and for home theater in one system. That is the concept anyway.

Either Cary or CJ had proposed a tube amp for HT a couple years ago. Not sure if it ever got off the ground or if they still make it.

Tube amps all around is going to be a priceier road for sure... a warmer one too in more ways than one. Make sure to stand real close to the amp (s) you want to try/buy first.

No kids or pets? glowing tubes are attractive and curious things they like to touch.... just a thought though.

good luck