You may be right, Ral, and very soon I will be trying class A mono blocks. I do not agree about the need for tubes in the amp. The Pass X takes what it is fed and simply amplifies while not adding any character of its own.
I am very familiar with the Llano Trinity hybrid, and it mystifies me. No electrical engineer I know believes the Trinity is a class A amp. Not with it's diminutive heat sinks and cool running temperatures. I'm trying to get one over to my place for an audition anyway. A friend of mine is using Telefunken tubes with his. Hearing it at his place, I can't come to any certain conclusion of it's overall worth.
My Apogee Duetta Signature speakers have a rich sound on their own. I've found straight tube amps to be too slow and sticky with the Duetta. The Pass X is the cleanest sounding solid state bar none. It has no character. Coupled with my ribbon speakers and great tubes, the combination is as real as it gets.... With cd material.
I have run straight tubes on slightly brash Apogee Stage speakers, and that had the same synergy in the mids as my Pass plus Duettas. What I want is all the liquid mids of the tubes without the syrup. Mating a tube signal to a sonically passive amp has worked well for me.
I am very familiar with the Llano Trinity hybrid, and it mystifies me. No electrical engineer I know believes the Trinity is a class A amp. Not with it's diminutive heat sinks and cool running temperatures. I'm trying to get one over to my place for an audition anyway. A friend of mine is using Telefunken tubes with his. Hearing it at his place, I can't come to any certain conclusion of it's overall worth.
My Apogee Duetta Signature speakers have a rich sound on their own. I've found straight tube amps to be too slow and sticky with the Duetta. The Pass X is the cleanest sounding solid state bar none. It has no character. Coupled with my ribbon speakers and great tubes, the combination is as real as it gets.... With cd material.
I have run straight tubes on slightly brash Apogee Stage speakers, and that had the same synergy in the mids as my Pass plus Duettas. What I want is all the liquid mids of the tubes without the syrup. Mating a tube signal to a sonically passive amp has worked well for me.