Sorry V-5xe... stupid typos. |
I'm willing to spend up to $4000 (on agon)... just trying to explore the options and figure out which of those might be worth "auditioning" (i.e., purchasing used and reselling if they don't compare favorably to my current XA-30.5/INT-30A). I'm going to keep it and use its preamp so I can get a good A/B comparison. Getting a cheaper option is simply attractive because it opens up the cash for some other audio purchases... hence the flirtation with the Aleph 2s and the Ayre V-5xe. I'm in Boulder, I wish Ayre would just let me borrow one for audition (I checked and they won't... despite not having any CO dealers). |
Stevecham, as Unsound pointed out I do find it surprising that you're getting enough out of the CJ. I'm certainly not in a big room (or a small one for that matter), but my current Pass (the INT-30A... which gives 60 W of class A power into 4 ohms, and probably tops out around 200 wpc) just doesn't control the lower end of the 2.4s. Bass is just all over the place, sometimes it shakes the windows, other times there's just nothing there even when it clearly should be. With the same amp, my Thiel 1.6s actually produced more bass on a couple tracks that I sampled. |
Nope, haven't started to look through the options to learn their lineup yet... but I'll take a look. Any particular models you're a fan of? At one point I was considering Mark Levinson, but the reliability complaints and all the posts about getting the caps replaced turned me off. |
The Pass INT-30A certainly makes absolutely stunning music on the Thiels... but only with certain types of content. |
This commentary regarding power supplies made me start wondering about my house's (rather poor) electrical situation. I'm in a short term (2 year) rental of a house built around 1940 and much of the house is on the same circuit as my electronics (and will actually blow if my girlfriend uses a hair drier or electric heater while I'm watching TV or listening to music). Given the temporary nature of the situation, I don't think I can run an independent 20 amp line, but is there a way to check whether that circuit is impacting the amp's current draw (and therefor my system's bass response)? Aside from having noisy power, my uninformed opinion was that current delivery wouldn't be a problem unless the fuse was breaking when I tried to play music loud (which has never happened). |
It's a funny world out there... wish we could all just take disks/equipment over to each other's house to examine the true state of affairs. Even since I made this thread, my INT-30A has kept improving (I'm about a month into ownership but leave it on constantly), and it is simply jaw-dropping spectacular a lot of the time. I'm growing increasingly concerned that the only thing I'll like better on the next amp will be the bass control and I'll only notice that when I listen to the very specific types of music that the deficiencies noticeable. |
Unsound, sorry, but can you elaborate on how knowing that the Pass is a 15 amp draw will help me? |
Yeah, I wish I could go higher in the XA line. The 60.5s are kind of in the zone, although even getting the funds for that purchase would require living with the 30.5 for a couple more years. Although Renohifi suggested that that could be a solution, Pass themselves recommended the XA100.5, followed by the 350.5, and then the 250.5 as the best matches for the Thiels. |
Interesting action over hear folks. Thanks for all the comments. I almost bought the last 250.5 that was on here, but it was in Canada and I didn't want to pay to import it... so I'm still considering the other options. |
Well, it's been a while but I thought I should finish off this thread. The 30A ended up beating the X250.5. It was more natural sounding, with a little less harshness to the sound, although with poorer bass control (as everyone would expect). Voices sounded much more natural through the 30A and the soundstage and imaging were also better. It actually didn't take too long to make that decision.
I also replaced my REL Storm with a Thiel SS1 (and passive crossover). The SS1 definitely integrates better and is less boomy, although there are times where I feel that the REL made a slightly better band-aid for the bass issues I've experienced. Because it wasn't perfectly crossed-over, it overlapped a bit with the Thiel 2.4s and hid some of the bass a bit more than the SS1 does. |
Still wish Stevecham and I could just switch to see what each other's amp sounds like. I do find it difficult to consider the Pass Labs XA-30.5 to be "poor quality power"... but would love to try the CJ amp without risk. Ohh well, trial and error is a fun enough route... |
Well, I guess I'm going to try out a McIntosh 402. Double the watts from my Pass and it'll still double down as the impedance drops. It was used by the previous owners of my 2.4s. Unless I just adore it, I'll probably still try to pick up a X250.5 and then sell the loser of the two. |
A thread update for future readers.
The little 30 W Pass amp just killed the 400W McIntosh. The Mac did help address the bass issue (although not a ton), but was bested in every other dimension by the Pass. Putting the Pass in the system was like lifting a veil off the music. You could hear so much more detail, a much better soundstage, and an elimination of a lot of glare in the sound. So much more delicate and natural. No contest between the two products for me.
Anyway, after this experience made me fall even harder for the INT-30A, I decided that maybe adding a sub to my system might allow me to keep all the benefits of the XA series, but also make up for the bass deficiencies I've had. Although I'd have preferred to have tried a Thiel sub, I ended up getting a decent price on an REL Storm III. I have to say that I'm extremely impressed with what this sub did to my system. Like others have commented, adding the sub opened up the soundstage and added depth to the music. I also watched Salt and listened to Tupac's All Eyes on Me (well recorded quality rap, btw), and the sub really made up for the previous bass deficiencies that had made these types of material feel flat and lifeless before. Yesterday was really the first time I've been fully satisfied with the stereo since beginning the upgrades in December.
I did end up purchasing an X250.5 to compare to the INT-30A, but only because I'd initiated that process before getting the sub. I'm actually very satisfied with the current setup and probably would have quit amp shopping if another day had passed. I will update the thread, however, after comparing these two amps.
Thanks for all the feedback folks. |
