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PLEASE match Advice Pass Labs X350.5 (20k) to Hovland HP-100 (2500ohms) Miss-match ???

GUYS / GALS NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!

A friend said this preamp is outstanding and will sound great with Pass Labs amps and to not get caught up in the specs but the measurements say different.

Pass Labs X350.5 amplifier with input Impedance 30k ohms Balanced or 20k ohms Single ended* 
(*source Pass Labs Manual)  

Hovland HP-100 source impedance 2500ohms* 
(*source Stereophile) 

Guys / Gals, can I used my Pass Labs X350.5 amp with Hovland HP-100 preamp? Has anyone used Pass amps with Hovland pre's. I will be using Magico S5 Speakers and Bricasti M1SE DAC but want it to sound the best it can. Should I just stick with the Aesthetix Calypso pre I was leaning toward before my gut said to go for the Hovland HP-100

Hovland HP-100 Preamplifier: * Output impedance: approximately 2500 ohms or according to Atkinson, Hovland HP-100 (2500ohms) its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean*. The Pass Labs doesn't meet the x10 requirement it is supposed to but it is sort of close when looking at it. What do you guys think? I am not sure what to do but you guys will know what to do?

Stereophile: Its input impedance was a usefully high 100k ohms in the midrange and bass, with just a small reduction to a still-high 86k ohms at 20kHz. Despite the claim that the HP-100 uses a cathode follower output stage, its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean.

Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/hovland-hp-100-preamplifier-measurements#YZXZfGLbbL2COkLR.99 https://www.stereophile.com/content/hovland-hp-100-preamplifier-measurements#YZXZfGLbbL2COkLR.99
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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
If I go SS pre for max matching I have these 2 options for exact same very good price. The matching brand via same company obviously would be best matchm but have heard more than a couple times it can be kind of sterile which I hate and the Ayre. No one ever calls them sterile.


Same money
Pass Labs XP-10 
Ayre K-5xeMP

For $800 more and money matters 
CJ ET3SE 

or add another $300
ARC LS27

These tube amps have low enough source impedance to work as they use JFETs to solve the problem.

I'm leaning towards Ayre or CJ I think although part of me still wants the BAT - what do you guys think? Thx 

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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
Oops guys just got back me. 
Ayre K-1xe for $150 more than the ARC -

i head these are great - long in the tooth but great - really want the one out of these that is the best but also match impeidamce wise and will match my Pass amp best and work with Magico S5's - so I can swing any these price wise?
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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
The Pass XP-10 pre and Ayre K-5xeMP are only 2/3 the price of the others if that helps at all. 
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,105 posts
 
My vote goes to the K-1xe but I am biased by years of ownership. Could be a lifetime buy.

Dave

steakster
720 posts
 
With your decision-making, perhaps take into account tube-rolling. I have a tube preamp (Musica Bella) & tube dac (CJ). Neither of which presents the old-style soft, bloated, tubey sound. Quite the contrary, the music is crystal clear. With tube-rolling, the sonic signature of each component can be significantly altered.  Different tubes will offer different presentations.
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