2. amps-preamps
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Sophia II's and Pass Labs etc

HI!

I will buy a new amp set up for my Wilson Audio Sophia II's after the summer. I currently use a Burmester 051 integrated amp and a Burmester 061 cd player + a TW Acustic Raven w/Graham Phantom II arm will be ordered soon

I like the Burmester 011 preamp and Burmester 911 mk3 amp very much, although I have not tested the amp set on my speakers. The price for the set in Norway is NOK 276,000,-

The other options I am looking at are:

- Pass Labs XP20 and XA 100,5 / XA 160.5 mono amps, approx. NOK 210,000 / NOK 255,000

- Audio Research REF 3 preamp and REF 110 amp, approx. NOK 220,000,-

- Simaudio Moon P8 and Simaudio Moon W8, approx. NOK 245,000,-.

- Spectral DMC-30SS and Spectral DMA 360, approx. NOK 230,000,-.

And then you have Conrad Johnson, Mark Levinson, Luxman, Accuphase, MBL, etc etc.

Do you have any preferences of the amps mentioned. Do you know if Pass Labs XA 100.5 will be strong enough for the Sophia 2's?

I listen foremost to pop/rock/hip hop/electro/jazz/metal/etc, since I am a talent buyer within the festival circuit in Norway.

Thanks for your help.

Cheeers, ToffenG, Norway
toffeng
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
The XA-30.5 is the best sounding Pass amplifier in production at this time IMO.

That being said, it's difficult to designate any audio component costing $5.5K a "steal". Again IMO.

Dealer disclaimer.
spatine
84 posts
 
Does anybody know if most models within the XA.5 line have their own design tweak different from the others? I really thought they all have the same design.

I too also heard that at low volume, the XA30.5 sounds superior than the more powerful models.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
All I know is, my $10,000 XA-60.5 get no love, either from users here or from Pass Labs, apparently.

Boo hoo.

onemug
784 posts
 
The ONLY hard/fast rule in Audio is there are no hard fast rules in Audio.

A softer/slower rule is that amps with fewer output devices seem to sound a little sweeter than their bigger brothers which may explain some peoples preference for the 30.5.

I believe I read with the Pass, the bigger the amp the more bias he applies which lowers distortion.
spatine
84 posts
 
Beside current bias can anyone think of other differences between models of the XA.5 line? A theory is that given the XA.5 design, current bias level has its peak performance at certain marker. People at Pass Labs don't get into it because the reason why is not well understood. Just thinking out loud here.
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