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Ayre <--> Parasound <--> Pass : where are you?

I’ve been thinking a little bit about three different types of SS amplifier sounds. I’m not really sure what to call them, but I have a definite preference. Here is the spectrum in my mind:

Ayre <--> Parasound <--> Pass 

On the one hand is Ayre and Arcam. Yeah, fight me, but there are big similarities to the sound. I also loved the Pono and what it did for my IEMs, using the Ayre designed output stage. I wish Fiio would license it too.

In the middle is Parasound Halo and ICEpower Class D modules (I’ve owned both) which to me are identical in sound quality. Clearly I’m happy with them for the price!

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Pass. A sound I really don’t like.

But regardless of which you like, what do you think the differences are?

What spectrum do you use to think about solid state amplifiers??
erik_squires

Showing 1 response by roxy54

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,199 posts
 
I think of the Ayre sound as very smooth, almost to a fault, and maybe not as dynamically robust as some, but I could see it being easy to live with.
I can only comment on one Pass amp, the X250.5. I owned it for a brief time, and it sounded thin and the opposite of organic or musical. I was very aware of it.
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