Go for the Int-60. With your speakers it will most likely rarely exit out of its 30W Class A bias. Pass is warm and luscious sounding and should be a nice match with the Kefs.
Mac MA 352 vs Pass INT-60
I've had an order in for the Mac MA 352 for 3 months and supposedly it's coming shortly. I wanted the tube front end but now I've got an option since I no longer think I need a balance control and I just found a really good deal for a new Pass INT-60. I'm running these, hopefully, into KEF R7 Metas at 88 dB. I figure the Pass is adequate into those 4 ohm speakers in my 25x14 space. I also figure the Pass has as much tube-like quality with likely a better high end than the Mac. If price is not a factor, what do you think? The Pass is a beast, but I can deal with that, and my first real amp was a Threshold 400A. I have some worry about current delays in Mac serviceability also. :)
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I have owned the pass 60 and I own the Mac 352. With the stock tubes the pass sounds more tuby. The pass 60 is a phenomenal sounding amp. I traded it for my Pass 250. In a lot of ways I like the sound of it better. The 60 has a very warm sound that is very engaging. The Mac 252 is more like the sound of tubes than the 352. The pass 60 also sounds a lot more powerful than the 352. Keep in mind, the pass 60 gets very hot. Hotter than my 250. Good for winter, not so much in summer. I have 4 integrated amps, and my pass only gets, in rotation in winter. |
About a year ago, I purchased an INT-60 and drove one of the not-easy speakers (Sonus Faber Electa Amator v.1) with 4 ohms and not a pair of high-sensitive speakers. It has been doing great, and I enjoy the music coming out. With the meter on INT-60, it hardly gets into the AB zone until I play music with a lot of bass and loud. Build quality is as good as my old ML #20. |
Thanks folks for the input, which kind of solidified the way I was leaning (toward the Pass). Surprisingly was able to get a new one for around $7500. I wanted the tube/SS combo deal on the Mac as that was my initial consideration, plus the balance control that I finally realized I didn't need (I had another equipment problem I fixed). Input from you and others convinced me I could get the warmth out of the INT-60, and the backlog and lack of info on the Mac started to bother me, along with some uncertainties some have had about their service facilities and support, not to mention the ownership change. Probably not to worry, but no problems there for sure with Pass, although was surprised no dealer in Houston area (or Texas).. One other thing you may have an opinion about: heat management. My rack has a space just big enough for the amp but is completely open front and back. I could put it on top but am concerned that might be getting top-heavy up there. I'm putting a maple platform under it as its feet are an inch or so farther apart than my 15 inch support. Upgrading has put me into a league that I have to have my son lug the equipment for me! Times change! Thanks for the help. |
Yes, the pass 60 is heavy, but the 250 is heavier. It weighs 106 pounds! I have a small two-shelf rack and put my pass on the top level. I use a hydraulic lift to take it down and put it up. I'm 70, and no way can I lift that beast. Enjoy your Pass, it is a great-sounding amp. The 250 leans a bit more to the neutral side with a hint of warmth. What the 250 has over the 60 is treble refinement. |
@OP The Pass is a much better sounding amp than the Mac and I hope you will be very happy with it. Most of the heat it generates is via the heatsinks but you really should have a couple of inches at least of air circulation space above the top plate. So it would be better on the top of your rack. Unless your rack is not level, the amp the load of the amp is compression only so there are really no concerns there. |
@howardlee you need room above and and on the sides for the Pass amp to breath properly. I highly recommend, if possible, to have the amp on the stand and out of the rack for the following reasons….you give it a chance to dissipate heat and you minimize EMI. I always found the system to sound significantly better with the amp out of the rack. |
you may like the Pass better but neither are ultimate destinations. mac makes incredible amplifiers but their preamp and preamp sections are not so great and imho gives people the impressions they have have about the brand. put a clean, refined, neutral, transparent non mac preamp in front of a mac power amp and you have an exceptional system. the pass amps are simply too colored for my preferences and it imprints their sound on every bit of music. |
You’re right about Mac amps being sought after in the past. I don’t know about the preamp history but this hybrid had me interested for the tube front end. Without autoformers made amp kind of a different animal. I just decided there was more certainty with Pass once I got over the tube thing. I still think I’d have been happy with the Mac and didn’t want the extra features. I’ll also admit to being someone ready to turn off the tube LEDs. Meters ok, but real tube glow is special IMO. |
If you change out the stock tunes to pvane horizon, the mac 352 will sound significantly better. As far as pass coloring sound, my pass 250 does not color the sound anymore than my Mac, Accuphase, Hegal. They all have a slightly different presentation. During my amp, rotation there are times when I feel my other amps sound just as nice as my pass until I put my pass back in rotation. The Pass does, it the best. The pass 60 is darker sounding than the 250. |