Thoughts on mating ML ESL 11 A's to a butler TDB 2250 hybrid amp

@audiotroy

Butler doesn’t have dealers anymore.

But that’s beside the point. It’s a good sounding amp in my opinion, especially for the money as they can be found for under $1500 used. But it’s a small company, guitar pedals seem to be the main business and it’s basically BK and his assistant. So... if that ever changes one could be SOL. Lots of small companies like that.

The Monads, if you want to go there. I agree, way, way, way overpriced. Cool looking, but not special enough to justify the price.

I would agree that BAT amps are excellent, a used one under 2k would be an excellent purchase for the OP.

A used BAT VK200 would be outstanding, I sold mine last year for 1k, I wanted to keep it as I felt it punched way, way, way above it’s weight. Ballsy as all heck in the low end. I think the Butler Top end has a bit more sparkle, I think the VK200 is a better amp overall.

Classe, depends on the amp.

I’ve owned all of the above over the years. (except the monads)

@pvmike

BK Butler makes a fine amp, under 2k used you have lots of choices. Butler is a good one with just a little bit of tube seasoning.  I suspect it would sound excellent. 

Vincent audio makes something similar, If you want another small company doing some unique things - you could check out Van Alstine.

If you want class D... plenty of similar options out there. Personally, with powered woofers and ARC doing the EQ. I would go the direction you are, solid state with good current, with a little flavor (depending on your pre-amp).

But if you are going to get class D, I would get one of the less expensive online companies, unless you pay the uber bucks for the companies that MIGHT be making significant changes to the modules.  

I just demoed a bunch of different higher end amps with the 11As.  This is all about taste, really depends on the types of music you listen to and sound signature you like.

Biggest take away for me is that the ML electrostats are naturally warm and transparent speakers.  What you pair it with is really makes a difference and you can hear the differences pretty quick.  For me, the best pairing is an amp that has crisp highs, lush mids, controlled bass.  I ended up ordering the Luxman 509x to replace my MC452, which felt was a bit too warm for MLs.

If you do decide to go the class D route, you may want to check out the NAD amps/integrateds as well.  I haven’t heard them myself but seem like a good bang for the buck.

I keep poking around and discovered Manley 250 monos any thoughts on this amp paired to Martin Logan ESL11A using a Linn DSM as a source and pre amp

I would personally steer away from tube amplifiers with ML.  While I'm sure those Manley monos are very nice, they explicitly state the optimum speaker impedance is 5 ohm and the output impedance is 0.538 ohm.  The ML panels are very capacitive and the minimum impedance is 0.6 ohm at 20 kHz, so probably not a good match.  If you crave the tube sound I would look at a hybrid design, since you already have your source/pre.  For what its worth I have the predecessor to your ESL11A (Montis).  I power them with Pass INT-150.  I think Pass amplification works well with ML.  I'm sure there are many other (less expensive) alternatives that would work as well.