Moscode 402au vs Butler TDB2250 vs McIntosh MC275

Another option is to buy another MC275 and run them as mono at 150W each. If you like the Mac mid range, it might be something to consider.

I’m curious too…. Tvad once had a 401 Moscode, I believe. He might chime in on what he liked or disliked about it…

I have a TDB 5150. I use it as a 2ch amp now and then. I like what it does overall. I even thought about getting the TDB 2250. The Butler hybrid amps offer a good deal of bass on my Sonata IIIs in a closed off 2400 cu ft room approximately. I really do not need to use my sub, though often I will…. As it’s my preff. Though it’s actually not in fact prerequsite.

I will say from a “Gee I sure do like flexiblity” stand point, the MosCode amp always looked good to me on paper given the ability for user tube rolling.

The Butler doesn’t allow for any user tube replacements, even though it uses one in each amp, though not for gain purposes. They also need to be biased by Mr. Butler. So with the Butler it’s pretty much a what you see is what you get…. Akin to an SS amp.

The Butlers however are cost effective…. Or not terribly pricey… except the one he makes using the 300b tubes.

It’s an easy amp to listen to, own, and operate. Rock steady performance, and not pricey. It should mate with your Calypso easily. It will rock too. Your current tube setup in your preamp and the power cord on the amp should enable you a very quick, fast feel, for R&R music. I play a little Def Lep, ZZ Top, and so forth thru mine. No probs.

It comes down to what you really want/need. Flexibility? Hands off operation? Your tastes, and budget.

what kind of speakers do you have?

Leben CS-300 with Sylvania driver and output tubes, plus Zu Mother power cord, Zu Varial IC, Zu Druid and Zu Method Sub.

Right now, listening ZZ Top, Billy F. Gibbons´s guitar bites your shoulder.

Daniel

Jaybo, my speakers are Sehring 703s. Sehring is a German brand that is not currently distributed in the US. Sensitivity is 86 db at 8 ohms. Frequency response is 38Hz to 27kHz. Sound signature leans more towards "analytical" than "warm", and for that reason reviewers have suggested that they sound better with tube than solid state amplification. That said, they did sound quite good powered by a now defunct B&K 4420 solid state amp, offering great bass and soundstage width/imaging.

I really do like the Sehrings quite a lot and don't want to change them. In a lot of ways, I view them as the best componenet in my system. I have heard them deliver tremendous bass and a phenomenal soundstage with the B&K 4420. I also am awed by how they sound with the MC275 with music that isn't that dynamically challenging. Unfortunately, I don't have enough space for monoblocks or a massive solid state stereo amp like Pass Labs or Classe. I live in a medium-size New York apartment. The appeal of Butler and Moscode is that they have tubes in the signal path, output a lot of power, and are relatively compact in size. The only other amp I have thought about has been a Modwright KWA 100SE. However, I am a little suspicious that the Modwrights are not quite living up to the glowing reviews, seeing how many have come up for sale here in the last few months.