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PLEASE match Advice Pass Labs X350.5 (20k) to Hovland HP-100 (2500ohms) Miss-match ???

GUYS / GALS NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!

A friend said this preamp is outstanding and will sound great with Pass Labs amps and to not get caught up in the specs but the measurements say different.

Pass Labs X350.5 amplifier with input Impedance 30k ohms Balanced or 20k ohms Single ended* 
(*source Pass Labs Manual)  

Hovland HP-100 source impedance 2500ohms* 
(*source Stereophile) 

Guys / Gals, can I used my Pass Labs X350.5 amp with Hovland HP-100 preamp? Has anyone used Pass amps with Hovland pre's. I will be using Magico S5 Speakers and Bricasti M1SE DAC but want it to sound the best it can. Should I just stick with the Aesthetix Calypso pre I was leaning toward before my gut said to go for the Hovland HP-100

Hovland HP-100 Preamplifier: * Output impedance: approximately 2500 ohms or according to Atkinson, Hovland HP-100 (2500ohms) its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean*. The Pass Labs doesn't meet the x10 requirement it is supposed to but it is sort of close when looking at it. What do you guys think? I am not sure what to do but you guys will know what to do?

Stereophile: Its input impedance was a usefully high 100k ohms in the midrange and bass, with just a small reduction to a still-high 86k ohms at 20kHz. Despite the claim that the HP-100 uses a cathode follower output stage, its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean.

Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/hovland-hp-100-preamplifier-measurements#YZXZfGLbbL2COkLR.99 https://www.stereophile.com/content/hovland-hp-100-preamplifier-measurements#YZXZfGLbbL2COkLR.99
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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
Thanks audioconnection - i love that album - ill listen for it.

jimcgrogan - those statements about pass xp10 being sterile i should have been explained a bit more and have to be taken in context though - as they relate to tube amps. They can also be more dynamic and precise so never knocking pass pre - I love pass products but to be fair the xp10 is the entry level pass product vs a reference cost no object preamp. If I could had got a xp20 but those are 3 times the money
 . 


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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
OK guys - went to bed - done deal - buying the Ayre K-1xe but woke thinking man I am going to want some tubes -awwwe...

Opinions guys - I am deciding soon - if you had to choose what do you think - they are only a $200 apart price wise.

CJ ET3SE - full warranty with about 20 hours on it

Ayre K-1xe - upgraded to xe in 2010

If you had to choose one right now what one? 

other gear recap

Magico S5 Speakers - (being delivered today - so excited :) 
Pass Labs X350.5 amp
Bricasti M1SE DAC
microRendu w/Uptone Audio ISO Regen, Amber Regen, (2) LPS-1, JS2
HiDiamond Full Loom and matching conditioner
(3) Verastarr Grand Illusion Signature II AC cables (dac,pre,amp)
(2) Sumiko S.9 Subwoofers (hopefully not needed w/Magico's)

Just need to decide is CJ ET3SE or Ayre K-1xe will match the best with my gear above

Room 15 x 24 w/cathedral ceilings set up on the long wall

Music - typical mix but no hard heavy metal or large scale orchestra but most everything else. 



audioconnection
1,015 posts
 
(((Pass Labs X350.5 amplifier with input Impedance 30k ohms Balanced or 20k ohms Single ended*)))
I love tube preamps don't get me wrong.
in your unique situation with regard to the lowish input impedance,
 the only reason to install tubes would be the well-intended committee peer pressure agreement choice.
Most of the folks offering advice are not running tube preamps into lowest impedance amps or suffered the bleak lifeless consequences.
so, in reality, they believe in their bias.
  its a choice of optimization of course if your not totally blown away
 w K1 you can easily sell it for close to the deal you picked it up for and have this experience under your belt and revisit with the expectation of differnt results. My ten buck says you'll be way too busy enjoynig music
 JohnnyR 
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
Fsmithjack, I’m not in a position to recommend a choice between the K-1xe and the ET3SE, and the recommendations you’ve received in favor of the Ayre come from members whose opinions and directly relevant experience certainly command great respect.

To add, though, to my earlier statement that:
The CJ CT-5 is ok in terms of impedance compatibility, based on JA’s measurements. The 17LS is as well, so I suppose the 17LS2 and the ET3SE are likely to be also.
... I subsequently found the following statement in the manual for the ET3:
MAIN OUT:Connect to the input of your amplifier (or crossover in a bi-amplified system). We recommend the use of an amplifier with an input impedance of 20k ohms or higher. Since this preamplifier inverts phase, it may be necessary to invert the speaker leads to maintain correct absolute phase.
Also, given the reference in CJ’s description of the ET3SE to the use of Teflon capacitors it wouldn’t surprise me if similarly to the 17LS2 it uses two 2 uf output coupling capacitors in parallel, for each channel. That would probably result in an output impedance at 20 Hz of a little more than 2K, the exact value depending on the output impedance of the circuitry that lies ahead of the cap. That seems consistent with a 20K minimum load impedance recommendation, which appears to be satisfied by your amp, albeit just barely.

Good luck, however you decide to proceed. Regards,
-- Al

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dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
Another great post, Al.

fsmithjack, the review below accurately articulates my long-term ownership experience with the K-1xe:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/ayre_k1xe_v1xe_followup.htm

Note the line: "You won’t mistake and K-1xe and V-1xe for tubes, but you won’t care either." Pretty much sums it up IMO. Also notice the reviewers emphasis on the K-1xe’s compatibility with a wide variety of amplifiers...

If you do get the K-1xe and plan to use it via its SE outputs vs balanced XLR, take heed to the manual re: that it inverts polarity via the SE outputs, so simply reverse the positive and negative speaker cables on both right and left amplifier outputs to correct.

Dave

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