ARC Ref 2 MK 2 Pre w/ Pass X-600 monos?

Thanks for all of your comments/suggestions. I will look into the LS5 MK II as recommended.

I hate to say it but my experience with the Calypso has been very unsatisfactory. It sounded good when it worked properly--and customer service was very responsive--but after my third set of tubes I can't live with it anymore. Even on its good days I found it kind of noisey and began to miss the Accuphase CL-2800 I had demoed for a few weeks. I have decided to stay with tubes however and I think I'll give the ARC products a try.

Meisterkleef brought up an interesting point though--perhaps it is my Khorus MK II that is anemic. They are absolutely fantastic with accoustic music and vocals--strings and the female voice in particular. Piano though doesn't have the livliness and percussive impact I have heard on other systems. Same problem with bass and percussion on rock CD's/SACD's. Sounds "boxy" and the mid range seems compressed or closed. The bass seems muted. I understand that most rock recordings are poorly mixed and the speakers are very revealing... Was wondering if I should add powered subs, but the Talons are supposed to be great with rock recordings. What's going on? I've been staying away from a lot of the music that I love because it just doesn't sound "right" to me--but how much Bocelli and chamber music can a man take?

I have digressed. I'll give the LS5 or Ref 2 a try. If that doesn't work.... I may be in the market for Vandy 5A's! I'll keep you posted.

Bhouser, thanks for your thoughts. I actually had a chance to meet Mike at the San Fran HES show last year and he pretty much told me the same thing about the Sims. In fact he had Sim gear running his flagship Firebird loudspeaker, or whatever the thing was called. The thing was that I had already owned the Pass monos, which I got an incredible deal on.

So what you are really saying to me is that the problem with my bass response is my amps? This is not a pre-amp issue? ...BTW, listening to the Al Dimeola/J. McLaughlin/P. DeLuca 'Friday Night in San Francisco' SACD through the Talon's as I write this, and they are indeed magic (with this type of accoustic material)!

Just a little update on this thread:

I finally sent the Aesthetix Calypso back to my dealer, and have been running my Accuphase DP-77 directly into the Pass monoblocks. Oh-my-god what an improvement! In addition, I re-focused the Talon's bring them closer together and closer to the wall and the improvement in bass response has beeen shocking. They sound wonderful, and I know they could achieve even more with more precise placement. Altogether the difference is stunning and I found myself listening to a lot of recordings I found otherwise unlistenable before.

On the pre-amp front, my dealer (who detests solid state equipment--i think even his toaster runs on tubes) sold me the Ayre K-1x, and I eagerly await its arrival. He says it is the only solid state pre he has ever liked.

Stay tuned...

Michael