Ptekkis, thank you for your views on the Passion 300 integre amps. I have heard elsewhere that the Integre DT has lightweight bass and not very powerful, and can imagine the YBA 600 to be in an entirely different league altogether. I do not doubt the quality of the higher models in the YBA line.
The Plinius is a great amp that has a lush and warm signature, and I am not going to sell it. It is just that my latest experience of testing some integrateds has shown the Plinius(or the ARC preamp) to be little soft-sounding in the mids with skewed tonality. I suspect I would be able to obtain a higher level of musicality and tonal accuracy with more transparent and musical amps. Don't get me wrong, the Plinius is still a very good amp on its own that has a desirable sonic signature to most folks. It's just that I am seeking another amp that will be able to get me closer to the sound I am looking for and take me off the merry-go-round. I am currently looking at the Bladelius Thor II. The good thing is this integrated has a preout that can enable hook-up to a power amp. The YBA 600 pre/power is not within my budget but will keep the Passion 300 Integre in mind.
Cheers.
The Plinius is a great amp that has a lush and warm signature, and I am not going to sell it. It is just that my latest experience of testing some integrateds has shown the Plinius(or the ARC preamp) to be little soft-sounding in the mids with skewed tonality. I suspect I would be able to obtain a higher level of musicality and tonal accuracy with more transparent and musical amps. Don't get me wrong, the Plinius is still a very good amp on its own that has a desirable sonic signature to most folks. It's just that I am seeking another amp that will be able to get me closer to the sound I am looking for and take me off the merry-go-round. I am currently looking at the Bladelius Thor II. The good thing is this integrated has a preout that can enable hook-up to a power amp. The YBA 600 pre/power is not within my budget but will keep the Passion 300 Integre in mind.
Cheers.