What amps should I audition?
d2girls You've got a speaker that "can" tear your head off with the wrong amp. You want an amp that is extended at both ends, dynamic, detailed and tight. Yet a must is one that is sssssweet!! And that's going to be the any of the Pass XA's you mentioned, the bigger the better as the standing Class-A will be higher the bigger you go. Cheers George |
A couple of thoughts: 1. I have relied on George's insight a number of times and have always been happy that I have. I put a lot of faith in his experience, particularly the science behind the sound. He's great at system synergy, which is really important. 2. Reno Hi-Fi does offer in-home demo's (and it's fully spelled out on their website). Beyond that, Mark (the owner), is one of the kindest, smartest and most reasonable people I know in the business. There's a reason Reno is the largest Pass Labs dealer-- I think in the world. 3. If you decide to skip the Pass recommendation, buy used-- without question. There are a ton of unrealistic, and a few realistic, sellers right here on Audiogon. When you find a realistic seller, you need to be ready to go, though.-- right then and there, or what you are looking at will be gone. 4. I am a big Conrad Johnson, Pass Labs, Eggglestonworks (speakers), fan. They all make great sounding, reliable and high quality gear. And, their products are made in the U.S., which I value, as do many others. Happy searching and listening. |
I auditioned 3 of the amp manufacturers you are considering. The current Pass Int, Accuphase 470 and Lux 509X. All had a unique sound unsurprisingly and I liked them all for different reasons. The Pass for its control over the bottom end, the Luxman for its top end texture. I now own the Accuphase e-470. It was the sweet spot for me. I use it to drive Dyn Contour s5.4 (87db). It has a very musical sound on the slightly warm side. I am very happy with the e-470. The e-480 is also about to be released. Try before you buy. If you can’t get them home, audition with components with similar characteristics to those you intend to pair with in your own environment. Happy hunting and enjoy the auditioning. |
