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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

Showing 4 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
Peterayer, you do believe XA-60.5 amps would have enough power to successfully drive Eggleston Andra II loudspeakers? My instincts tell me no, and comments from other Andra II owners suggest not, but I'd be interested in your opinion.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
No, I have no way of auditioning Andra II, and I'd be purchasing them used rather than new.

I intend to keep the XA-60.5, so I'll be looking for other speaker alternatives with higher sensitivity specs. Daedalus models are under consideration.
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.

tvad
9,467 posts
 
...you really should pair the XA.5 series with a tube
preamp as it will only add to and enhance the sonic purity of
timbers/harmonics you get from the XA.5 series.

Hope this helps.
Hce4 (Threads | Answers)

Care should be taken that a tube preamp used with the Pass Labs gear does
not have high output impedance, as it may result in rolled of bass and treble.

I used a Lamm LL2 Deluxe (fully tubed) and Lamm L2 Reference (tubed power
supply) with excellent results.

Which tube preamp are you using, Hce4?
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