Synergy between AR Ref 3 and Pass X amps

I tried a Ref3 with XA-60.5, which have input impedance a bit higher than 20k ohms. The match was OK, but overall the sound was flat and uninspiring. I was unimpressed with the Ref3/XA-60.5 combo.

IMO, you want a preamp with output impedance under 200 ohms to mate with the 20k ohm Pass X-1000.

Similarly, I was wondering how an ARC Ref 3 (output impedence 600 ohms balanced) would match with a Mac MC402 (input impedance 20,000 ohms balanced). But I imagine I would encounter similar difficulties as Tvad. I am currently using a BAT VK-31 SE (output impedence 300 ohms) with good results but the prices on the Ref 3 have come down considerably in anticipation of the Ref 5.

No issue with the impednace match. There have been numerous threads discussing about this topic. I have an LS-25 Mk I and X350.5. There are no issues. My friend is using Ref 3 with X350.5 without any issue.

My concern with your combo is that Ref 3 is fairly neutral, and the X1000 (non .5 version) is also very neutral. You may or may not like the end result. (Or the result may not be what you would expect.) I had compared the X350 and X350.5 side-by-side, and the differences are not subtle.

FrankC

I have tried my Ref 3 with Pass X-250, 350 and 350.5 - no problems at all (other than mentioned by Gundam91).

Thank you for all your responses. Looks like I should either go with the AR110/210 or switch to Pass completely. Any advice on that in terms of sound?