I'm auditioning a Pass Labs XA-30.5 with Silverline Sonata III, driven by an Atma-Sphere MP-1 MK III. Alan Yun voices his speakers with Pass Labs, so I thought I ought to hear this combo.
I'm also using Speltz Zero boxes and doubling the Sonata III nominal impedance to 16 ohms. Very nice change...more spacious, open and relaxed, while still retaining the punch and drive. I'm not sure I'll ever use the Sonata III without the Zeros.
The bottom line is the XA-30.5 now is providing only 15 wpc into 8 ohms...but what excellent sound is resulting! I'm playing at easily 89-90db peaks with apparently room to go (but I haven't pushed it yet).
The Pass is a velvet hammer (which is exactly how I described the Moscode 401HR paired with Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE). The Pass Labs/Silverline combo is the best I've heard in my living room since the Von Schweikert/Moscode combo, and yes I'd say the Pass/Silverline combo is better. Great bass...deep, tight and solid. Electric bass lines are clear in the mix and easy to follow. In fact, I can't recall following electric bass so easily in the past. Mids and highs are equally resolved, and the highs display outstanding clarity and extension with out sibilance. Mids have very nice weight, punch and drive.
No, it's not tubes...not quite as holographic or organic, but it's close, and it provides many things tubes don't (or at least haven't in any of my systems). The amp has only about 30 hours on it, and already it's making an impression. Supposedly, it won't come into full bloom until 100-150 hours.
I'm also using Speltz Zero boxes and doubling the Sonata III nominal impedance to 16 ohms. Very nice change...more spacious, open and relaxed, while still retaining the punch and drive. I'm not sure I'll ever use the Sonata III without the Zeros.
The bottom line is the XA-30.5 now is providing only 15 wpc into 8 ohms...but what excellent sound is resulting! I'm playing at easily 89-90db peaks with apparently room to go (but I haven't pushed it yet).
The Pass is a velvet hammer (which is exactly how I described the Moscode 401HR paired with Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE). The Pass Labs/Silverline combo is the best I've heard in my living room since the Von Schweikert/Moscode combo, and yes I'd say the Pass/Silverline combo is better. Great bass...deep, tight and solid. Electric bass lines are clear in the mix and easy to follow. In fact, I can't recall following electric bass so easily in the past. Mids and highs are equally resolved, and the highs display outstanding clarity and extension with out sibilance. Mids have very nice weight, punch and drive.
No, it's not tubes...not quite as holographic or organic, but it's close, and it provides many things tubes don't (or at least haven't in any of my systems). The amp has only about 30 hours on it, and already it's making an impression. Supposedly, it won't come into full bloom until 100-150 hours.