Upgrading form Pass integrated amplifier to a better one


Hello,

Currently I have a PASS INT-250 integrated amplifier . The Pass INT-250 is a very good integrated (in my system it was overall better than Plinius Hiato, Gamut D150se, Mark Levinson 535, Vitus RI-100,  Accuphase E-470 and some others) but I can't get rid of the feeling that I miss some explosiveness (drum kicks for example) and micro details.

I know that its not the speakers. The new Sonus faber tradition I have are much more open, dynamic and airy than previous Guarneri Evos, Elipasas SE and Amati Anniversarious I used to own. And before buying them I auditioned the Serafinos with Audio Research separates and it was the amazing combo. But I really prefer not to go the separates road ( ICs, power cords and space contribute to financial constrains also) and even so I like the combo of Pass and Serafinos overall but from time to time looking for some better integrated on the market.

Currently I presented with a good opportunity to buy latest Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated or latest just released Accuphase E-650.  No possiblilty to demo them, so I am asking here on the forum if anybody can comment if Gryphon Diablo 300 or Accuphase E-650 will be better integrated than Pass INT250 overall and especially in terms of dynamics, micro details and harmonics.

Any advise and opinion would be very appreciated.

My system: Esoteric K-05x, Pass INT-250, Sonus Faber Serafinos, all cabling are the Shunyata Sigmas.

Room is 12" wide by 17" long. Listen mostly acoustic jazz and chamber classical on low to moderate levels.


Thank you.


denon1
Two integrated amps I have personally heard in depth a bit better then the very good Pass Labs ,are both from Denmark,
The superb Virus audio ,they make 2 models. Perrota consultants I believe still is s delear for them.
Gryphon another great product ,I do not think any distribution in the U.S

Due to a horrible review ,that was totally untrue . As with many reviewers they assume the unit is fully run in. Which BTW I totally feel the MFG should cover this to prevent dumb
Things like that from happening. Long story short it totally ruined the little bit of support 
It had and since then he has stayed mainly in the European market. Having owned a Hifi store and heard these integrated amps know they are better then most separates. Expensive Yes but built to premium standards throughout.
The same can be said about Vitus.and power Doubles down to 2 ohms.Gryphon has a smaller model out now.also Accuphase makes a lower power 150wpc which is Excellent.
I apologize for the long delay regarding on the Boulder 865. I think it is a fantastic amplifier, and for the price, it is a giant killer. I was talked into the Boulder 865 by a dealer. I had actually wanted a Boulder 1010/1060 and the dealer insisted that 1) the 1000 series was being replaced and 2) That the money to invest in the next series would be better used on other components. I still think I want separates, but he might not have been wrong. Investing in top quality cables, balanced power, and an exceptional digital source have all contributed to the excellent music. Even when I hear a 1010/1060 combination, I think it is not that much better than what I have (given all the upgrades i made in balanced power-- the single most noticeable upgrade-- and signal/power cables). Not to mention many of the new integrated amplifiers are truly spectacular.

The Boulder is a spectacular instrument to convey what is on the recording. The boulder 865 is plays only what it is fed, it does not cover it up, it does not add anything, it does not take away anything. It simply amplifies the signal. And it is dead quiet. For example on Laurence Hobgood’s "First Song" the piano notes not only sound real, but have the power and decay as if I went over to the Steinway and played the song. The base, arguably the star of the track, was perfect. The plucking had the metallic sound and body, down to the vibrations. The rest of the track is perfect. The spacing between the performers is exceptional. That means the soundstage is great. It is not as layered as say my Viva, but that is a different system with different set of speakers, cables, and speakers.

Moving on to pop music, the 865 is equally good. On Razorlight’s Wire to Wire the melodic rock song comes alive with clarity, detail, and accuracy. The piano notes ring true, the voices come alive, with a sense of space and accuracy that very few other amplifiers can do. The drums sound great, the snare drum sounds eerily real. Classical music is just as strong, clear, accurate, and open.

The buid quality is top notch. It is a Boulder amplifier. The remote is awesome, the casing is great. They saved costs, clearly, but leaving off the trademark heatsinks. You know what though? It doesn't matter. it looks like a Boulder and if it made it more affordable, then its worth it! 

I do not like many of the audiophile terms, to be fair, I really do not know what it all means. What I can tell you is that the amplifier is open, meaning the instruments, voices, and placement is as open as one can imagine. Is the 1100 or the 2100 series better? I am sure. But with the balanced power the 865 is extremely close to the 1060.

So am I happy? Yes, I am very happy. Have I considered selling it and upgrading? Yes. I have thought about moving to the Gryphon 300, which you are talking about. I have not heard it and I worry that its not a step up but a step sideways. I also worry that it is a bit darker than the Boulder and I am not sure that will work my system. I have considered the Vitus sia-025 as well, but again I have not heard it in my system or with equipment like mine. I have considered moving up within the Boulder range and if I find the right opportunity, I might very well do that. I have a Viva Solista Mk III in my library and its great as well, different than the boulder, but conveys the signal in a very organic way. I am lucky that I get to enjoy the best of solid state and the best of tubes. I am not sure though that even my Viva would best my boulder in that system. Other great systems I have heard just did not wow me the way that my system continues to make me happy.

The other thing to remember is that the boulder is great in my set up with the equipment I have, I have heard Boulder sound bad with other cables, and have heard great systems with other amplifier designers that sound like dreck in my system. For example the DartZeel just sounded plain bad (the CTH 8550) in my main system. It sounded as though it was underpowered. I have heard the same DartZeel in other systems and it sounded great... and the separates can also be excellent.

The only other shout out I want to suggest is that the Core Power Technologies Equi-Core 1800 was transformational in my system. I rarely give product shout outs but it really quieted the whole system down and really made the 865 sound more similar to a 1060. Would the 1060 sound even better? Sure, but I do not have one in home to test and the 865 is dangerously close. Even my professional musician friends could barely tell the difference.

In all, the Boulder 865 is fantastic.

Hello, I got the Gryphon Diablo 300. It was delivered to me by freight on a pallet. After 5 hours of burning (it was totally brand new), this is my observation in compare to Pass INT-250. First obvious difference the low and mid bass on a different level - deeper tighter and more detailed. Second; the Gryphon's dynamic agility is best I heard at my house. The drum kicks, piano notes appears all of a sudden with such clarity, impact and focus - much closer to live performance than pass. The overall presentation is more neutral but still very musical and of cause micro details - on a new Bill Charlap disk I clearly hear him pushing pedals on his piano. I did not hear it with pass that clear. The only area for now were pass is may be better is soundstage of the pass is larger up front, but may be its just because the Gryphon is so new. At the same time the Gryphon's soundstage is deeper - again closer to what I hear attending to real live concerts. So to me in my system (even so Pass is terrific performer) Gryphon Diablo bring me another step closer to live performance with its low/mid bass,dynamic swings and micro details. And another very important aspect - no listening fatigue at all - outstanding for a brand new unit. My search for a perfect integrated is over.

My big thank you to Mike from Suncoast audio for his outstanding service and making it it possible to happen.