SS Amp for natural vocals

Class A is the only solid state circuitry that will do it, IMO. Pass Labs or Clayton Audio.

Some Class A/B designs come close, but they don't quite get there.

When it comes to high-dollar audio gear, I like the idea of buying products built in the USA that have excellent customer support.

03-30-08: Stehno
I'd put the Nuforce SE-V2 Class D amps right at the top of any list.

While quite good, the NuForce Ref9SE V2 didn't measure up to my Belles 150A Reference monoblocks, which were bested by a Pass Labs XA-30.5 Class A amp. The NuForce amps lacked punch and drive in the mids compared to the Belles and Pass Labs (on Silverline Sonata III). The highs were very nice, and the image was large. Bass was about equal to the Belles, and lacked the last bit of control of the Pass Labs.

Aren't you a dealer for NuForce, Stehno?

04-01-08: Tomcy6
Tvad, How did your Belles compare to the Pass amps? How did the midrange including vocals compare?

No one would believe me if I said the Belles and the Pass were close, but they are...particularly when the Belles are used as monoblocks. It's a matter of degree. Overall, the Pass sounds more natural and refined, but then they are Class A and they cost $10k for a 60wpc pair, versus $6k for 500wpc pair.

The differences between them are more pronounced when comparing them as stereo amplifiers. IMO, running the Belles as monoblocks is the best way to go, and reviews support this conclusion.

Alana Yun, builder of Silverline Audio loudspeakers recommended both Belles and Pass Labs to me, and I have to say he was absolutely correct on both counts.

I prefered the Belles Reference 150A by a pretty big margin and with several different sets of speakers.
Fly_fish_nz (Threads | Answers)

The 150A Reference is a darned fine amplifier...underrated and overlooked by many audiophiles.

Disclosure - I have a pair of 150A Reference for sale. They are being replaced by Pass Labs XA-60.5.