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- Oct 1, 2018
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I'm running an Akitika GT-102 and PR-101 preamp. Total cost less than $600. I sold my Pass Labs XA30.5 and XP-10 preamplifier for them. Those were over 10 times more expensive. No regrets! But I do have experience with Pass Labs and it's a very nice luxrious piece of kit to own and I wouldn't mind owning it again at some point. These 5 figure amps with 1 inch thick steel face plates and VU meters are audio jewellery so you just pick what you think looks best and if it will be compatiblie with your speakers and you get it and enjoy.What amp are you running right now?
Yes, it's the INT-25, I modified the thread title to be correct.Power amp XA25 is here
https://www.stereophile.com/content/pass-laboratories-xa25-power-amplifier-measurements
Looks like similarly very high distortion rising sharply above 1kHz.
When independent measurements are absent, that may as well be the best way to choose amps.you just pick what you think looks best
Hows this,I apologize for the gorilla style pictures. When my digital copy from Zinio arrives I will upload better pictures. My print version arrived before my digital (???)
If I were you and looking to spend that kind of money I'd be looking at Anthem STR with ARC room correction or NAD M10 with Dirac Live. Room correction will make a much bigger improvement than any change to gear without it..Seems like they'd be a very fine match with my JBL 4367 which stay around 6-8ohms in the mid and upper treble frequencies.
Yep, pretty nuts when 1/10th of the money would get you an Asian integrated with a hell of alot more power and just as good SQ.Seven and a half large? For this? Sometimes I have to wonder just what designers are thinking. Atkinson really must have little shame when he can write, "There is much to admire in the Pass Labs INT-25's measured performance." Or maybe he just throws back another beer and chuckles to himself, "Sucker..."
A $7K 25 watt distortion machine.
Phooey!
Or the new NAD M33 streaming MQA/DAC/Dirac integrated with Purifi amplifier section coming this spring! This looks solidIf I were you and looking to spend that kind of money I'd be looking at Anthem STR with ARC room correction or NAD M10 with Dirac Live. Room correction will make a much bigger improvement than any change to gear without it..
https://www.stereophile.com/content...d-amplifier-trying-dirac-live-room-correction
https://www.stereophile.com/content/anthem-electronics-str-da-integrated-amplifier-arc-measurements
To be fair, you'll be surprised how many people prefer the sound of 2nd order harmonic distortion aka "analog warmth", and are willing to pay a pretty penny for just the right amount of it. Nelson Pass knows full well what he's doing - it's no accident that the distortion is there. Pass could EASILY eliminate the distortion, but he knows what his customer base is looking for. The "art" is in adding just enough distortion so it's audibly enjoyable and that's what you're seeing.A $7K 25 watt distortion machine.
Phooey!
To be fair, you'll be surprised how many people prefer the sound of 2nd order harmonic distortion aka "analog warmth", and are willing to pay a pretty penny for just the right amount of it. Nelson Pass knows full well what he's doing - it's no accident that the distortion is there. Pass could EASILY eliminate the distortion, but he knows what his customer base is looking for. The "art" is in adding just enough distortion so it's audibly enjoyable and that's what you're seeing.
Absolutely, IIRC Nelson Pass has explained his design objectives in a few interviews posted online and YouTube.To be clear, he acknowledges this, no hidden agenda on his part.
Plenty of 'design exercises' and/or white papers on his websites -- he's pretty transparent (pun partially intended) on his art.Absolutely, IIRC Nelson Pass has explained his design objectives in a few interviews posted online and YouTube.
To be fair, you'll be surprised how many people prefer the sound of 2nd order harmonic distortion aka "analog warmth", and are willing to pay a pretty penny for just the right amount of it. Nelson Pass knows full well what he's doing - it's no accident that the distortion is there. Pass could EASILY eliminate the distortion, but he knows what his customer base is looking for. The "art" is in adding just enough distortion so it's audibly enjoyable and that's what you're seeing.
Agreed. "High Resolution" for the sake of resolution is no different than saying,"I want to eat my salad without any dressing because I want to taste every lettuce and tomato." There's nothing wrong with that, but it's also not wrong that people drown their salad in ranch dressing.I can't figure out why this angers some people.
He makes no claims of veils lifted or secret parts of the music being revealed.
He is simply putting spices on the steak because some prefer it that way and it drives others up the wall because "It should taste like steak and nothing else!!!!"
Think of how much better the world would be if we could all sit back and go "that isn't my preference but I'm happy that you enjoy it" with everything.