[size=10pt]APEX HI-FI BUTTE REVIEW[/size]
[size=10pt]Equipment used:[/size]
[size=10pt](a) Apex HI-FI Butte – Loaner from Todd at TTVJ[/size]
[size=10pt](b) Foobar2000 > W4S DAC-2 [/size]
[size=10pt](c) Hifiman HM-601 portable player[/size]
[size=10pt](d) Marantz SACD SA-8003 player[/size]
[size=10pt](e) Sansui TU-717 receiver [/size]
[size=10pt](f) Headphones: LCD-2 (60 ohm, 95 dB) w/ Norse Audio Norn cable, Fischer Audio FA-011 (160 ohm, 98 dB), Hifiman RE-262 IEM (150 ohm, 95 dB), Fostex T50RP (50 ohm, 98 dB)[/size]
[size=10pt]Initial impressions:[/size]
[size=10pt]Fewer frills lead to lower bills. This is your blue collar amp, it pushes sound with no shortcuts and little compromise. The Butte has a solid build, no cheap plastic feel here. This little champ can be easily tucked away on a night stand or corner of a work desk. Volume control is smooth. The headphone input will hold your ¼” TRS connector tight.[/size]
[size=10pt]Sound:[/size]
[size=10pt]Right away I found this amp to be neutral and smooth. Transparency and midrange clarity are delivered in spades with the Butte. These are the major strengths of the Butte. The midrange is where a lot of the magic happens for many of us and I found the Butte’s midrange to be natural and uncolored. You can push this amp without any significant edginess/harshness at the top or bloat at the bottom. There is no chance of amp-induced fatigue here. In general, with all of my headphones and IEM I found the bass to be tight and controlled. There is fairly good low-end weight and impact, but these are not the strengths of this amp. The ability to convey inner detail as well as resolution at the high frequency range is a bit lower than some other amps I’ve used but nothing to make me wince, especially at this price point. Above all, I found that the source and headphones can significantly make the Butte listening experience go from one that is laid back to one in which you are bobbing your head (discussed later). [/size]
[size=10pt]Soundstage: [/size]
[size=10pt]I found the soundstage to have a pleasant width and appropriate depth. Describing soundstage and layering can be difficult and subjective but to me it was adequate. I didn’t get the impression the instruments were on top of each other or too far away. [/size]
[size=10pt]Driving Power (with DAC-2 as source):[/size]
[size=10pt]LCD-2 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock), insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Fischer FA-011 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock), insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Fostex T50rp --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), loud (3 o’clock), very loud (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Hifiman RE-262 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock) , insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Favorite Butte + Headphone combos (with DAC-2 as source):[/size]
[size=10pt]1. RE-262[/size][size=10pt], Best synergy was heard here. I felt this combo presented the dynamics and toe tapping experience that I didn’t have with the headphones. Wonderful soundstage, not too wide, not too deep, just right. RE-262 is a forward IEM yet the Butte kept the instruments and vocals properly spaced rather than pushing the sound far into one’s head. The timbre of pianos, cymbals and saxophones were on point. The articulation of vocals was fantastic. More than adequate weight through the low end. The Butte displayed all of the detail this IEM could provide. I've never heard this IEM sound so good. [/size]
[size=10pt]2. LCD-2[/size][size=10pt], a solid pairing. Would I buy the Butte if the LCD-2 was my only headphone and DAC-2 the main source? Probably not. The combination by no means sounded terrible but I felt that the LCD-2 was always at the tipping point of going from a pleasant listening experience to "wow, I forgot the time" type of experience. Simply, I wanted a bit more attack. And to be honest, in this hobby we are paying good money for ear-gasms whereas others who are not so fanatic could very well live with this combo for a long time. Spoiler alert. However, when I used a different source I did achieve the PRAT I was looking for with the LCD-2 and Apex Butte (discussed later). [/size]
[size=10pt]3. T50RP (bass-heavy mod)[/size][size=10pt], almost on par with LCD-2. In fact, the excellent transparency of this amp made the Butte + T50 pairing better than that with my Schiit Lyr. To my ear, the Lyr can be a bit more lush in the mids and low end which causes my modded T50RP to bloat a bit at loud volumes. The Butte is leaner in the mid bass in comparison to Schiit Lyr. These characteristics of the Butte may in fact benefit individuals with bass-heavy headphones.[/size]
[size=10pt]4. FA-011[/size][size=10pt], the best way to describe the sound of this combination was thin and dry. When pushed to moderately loud volumes there was more treble energy in these headphones than I could take. If you’ve heard this headphone under properly amped conditions you know this is a “fun, liquid, v-shaped” headphone. So while I can’t offer an explanation for the results I found the least amount of synergy in this pairing. [/size]
[size=10pt]Favorite Butte + Source combos (with various headphones):[/size]
[size=10pt]1. Marantz SACD player[/size] [size=10pt]– this combination was the clear winner of the two week experience! The Butte made me a believer rather than just a tester at this point. I saved the different source combinations for the very end but I wish I had started here. I could easily be content with my CD player, LCD-2, and the Apex Butte. Throw away my computer + DAC-2 and live happily ever after, that was how good it was. The LCD-2 came alive during this pairing, especially in getting across the treble details. Details in the top-end were now dancing through the LCD-2. The midrange became even more palpable with no cost to clarity and articulation. The focus was now better and imaging stabilized. The attack transients now had my full attention, which was my main complaint with the DAC-2 combo. The dynamics + impact missing with the DAC-2 combo were present in the CD player + Butte. All of this was completely unexpected because I slightly prefer the DAC-2 + Lyr over the CD player + Lyr. For this reason I waited until the end to test difference sources, I figured it wouldn’t matter because the DAC-2 would always be better even via USB. We could try and dissect the reasons why but it was pure joy to hear the Butte behind a solid CD player. I would think that those who primarily listen to speakers and just want to throw a small headphone amp into the mix should seriously consider the Butte. Of note, the FA-011 sounded better now but still not great. LCD-2, RE-262, and T50 were thoroughly enjoyed with Marantz + Butte. [/size]
[size=10pt]2. W4S DAC-2[/size] [size=10pt]– my experience with this combo is detailed above. The experience overall was good but not amazing. Side by side with the Lyr and my headphones, I would choose the Lyr due to better synergy between DAC-2 + Lyr than DAC-2 + Butte. I am believing the output power of the source is really determining my experience with the Butte. The Marantz and W4S DAC-2 (unbalanced mode) have similar reported output voltage but I don’t know if the DAC-2 specs are RMS or peak. [/size]
[size=10pt]3. Sansui TU-717[/size] [size=10pt]– I enjoyed this a lot and contemplated for a while whether it should rank 2nd or 3rd. I imagine if the 717 had auxiliary inputs this would go 2nd because there was a tad more dynamics than with the DAC-2 + Butte. As a testament to the neutrality and transparency of the Butte the sound I heard was exactly as if I was listening to the radio through speakers.[/size]
[size=10pt]4. Hifiman HM-601[/size] [size=10pt]– last but not least. The small form factor of the Butte combined with a portable DAP may be a selling point to many. I did not use the Butte’s 2nd input (stereo mini) but rather the line out of the 601 to the analog inputs of Butte via a Blue Jeans Cable 1/8” TRS to RCA cable. The warmth of the 601 did color the sound a little bit. In comparison to the other sources there was a small hit to soundstage and image focus, not by any fault of the Butte. A small reduction in resolution was mainly due to source rather than Butte. While I would not buy the $499 Butte purely for use with my $249 DAP I could see how on vacation or work travel I would be very content with the combination.[/size]
[size=10pt]Conclusions:[/size]
[size=10pt]I primarily use tube amps so the Apex Butte loaner was an opportunity to hear the other side. The Butte is a solid state amp that can deliver clean, transparent sound at a price that may rival higher-end SS amps. If the LCD-2 is your main headphone and you already own the Schiit Lyr you’ll probably find that the Lyr provides a bit more dynamics and punch. However, the world doesn't revolve around the LCD-2 so I can see how people who do not prefer tube associated warmth and mid bass weightiness would flock to the more neutral Apex Butte. I am now a fan of the Apex sound and when I do get a solid state amp to complement my tube amp I will strongly consider the Apex line of products. As the reviews for this amp do start to come out it will be interesting to hear the opinions of those individuals with a more diverse set of headphones than myself. [/size]
[size=10pt]Pros:[/size]
[size=10pt]Transparency and clarity in the midrange. Price-to-peformance, small form factor (office use / travel), and the power to drive most cans make the Butte a versatile amp for the office or home. [/size]
[size=10pt]Cons:[/size]
[size=10pt]Synergy between Butte with one’s sources and headphones will significantly influence one’s experience. [/size]
[size=10pt]Me:[/size]
[size=10pt]First full review of gear after about a year into this world of better sound so take my comments with a grain or two of salt but I know what I hear, I hear what I hear, you may hear something different than me, but hear this, y’all come back now, you hear? But really, keep in mind I mainly use tube amps which can be very different than their SS brethren which may color my expectations. With that said, SS amps are a breath of fresh air that I will continue to explore. [/size]
[size=10pt]Conflicts of interest and financial disclosure:[/size][size=10pt] would love some but none in reality[/size]
[size=10pt]Thank you to Todd over at TTVJ for allowing me to enjoy this little amp for 2 weeks[/size]
[size=10pt]Availability: [/size] https://www.ttvjaudio.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=720
Close-up of T50s