Sonic Frontiers or Pass with Dunlavy 4a

IMO the X-1, as already stated above, will not give you the "bloom" that you are looking for. Mine never did and I really loved the X-1. It was better sounding to me and my audio buds then the SF line 2. As I recall, the SF tube amps did not offer a typical "bloom" sound either. I was using a Pass X-250 in my system and found that a tube preamp added some bloom versus the X-1 and using a tube amp with the X-1 added some bloom. The balance of either combo was different but enjoyable.

Since you already have one combo, I would say you either need to try differnt tubes in the line 3 or change up some cables. I see that you are using the Audience power cord on the X-350. I have one and although I felt it was a great cord for the money, it seemed to add a little hardness to the mids. It was very hard to tell until I tried the Elrod Sig 3 power cord on my X-250. That is when I realized what the X-250 was really capable of sounding like. As Sean states, try a few different cables first to see if you can get your system to sound as you want it to before changing components, because then you may have to deal with additional system matching issues.

Happy Listening.

I agree with the post mentioning different tubes. I find Amperex Bugle boys to add a little bit of "tubeyness" to the SF preamps, as they are generally very neutral sounding. You wouldn't have to change all of the tubes. I recommend these be placed in your cd player first. The Parts Connexion might have some insight on this. I also agree with Sean's post as well.

Thanks, Is adding the zobel networks the key with the goertz mi2, am I trying to add resistance between the amp and the speaker? Just wonderitg because the Goertz python seems to be the same as the mi2 but with the "twist" and a shielded jacket.
Someone else suggested that I use silver ic's. It seems that i tried silver ic's once on a different system and they had a bright etched sound. Anyone care to guess what a set or two of good silver ic's might do to the sound?

The Python's are NOT THE SAME electrically or sonically as the Equivalent gauge Veracity design. In my opinion, they are a lower grade product that was designed to compete with other products cosmetically and to increase the flexibility of the conductors. As such, they should be avoided if possible and the "flat" series ( non-spiral twisted ) of speaker cables should be selected.

As to the Zobel's, they simply present the amp with a higher impedance load at frequencies well above the audible spectrum. The flat Goertz design is such a low impedance and so wide in bandwidth that some amps will see this as a near short circuit at very high frequencies, causing them to become unstable and possibly do damage. By placing Goertz' impedance compensation network ( a Zobel ) in parallel across the binding posts of the speaker, the amp sees a higher impedance load, maintaining circuit stability.

As a side note, there are many high priced aftermarket "tweaks" that are simply Zobel networks built into some type of fancy packaging. Not only do these help to keep an amp more stable, they can also reduce the potential for RFI to enter the system via the speaker cabling, etc... As such, they are strictly a "win / win" situation and people should not be afraid to use them. They will in no way subtract from the listening experience and in some cases, actually improve the performance of the system. That's why others have taken to selling them as an accessory tweak at outrageous prices. Sean
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