So, I just want to update you regarding my search for new amplification. Thanks to Cal3713 and tjassoc for your tip on talking to Kent at Pass Labs. I did speak to him (and two other people there as well) and to Mark at Reno Hi Fi. Kent particularly was helpful. Actually he recommended either XA60.8 or the XA160.8 saying that they are both warmer than the XA100.8 and therefore would be a better match for the Wilson Sashas! I spent the last 5 days with the McIntosh 601s in my system. I must say that I was very impressed with them! They are totally different sounding amps than the MC501s, which I tried out a couple of years ago (albeit with a different front end, different cable and in a different room). I didn't like them because the high frequency range was MIA. The 601s were considerably more transparent than my Krells (and the 501s), which surprised me. They were very dynamic and produced a very strong sense of presence of the recording venue, which I was also surprised by. The highs were extended and smooth, but not overly smooth; I would describe them as somewhat "relaxed" sounding, but again, not overly so. The bass was actually more controlled than my Krell mono blocks - maybe that's their age showing. Very nice amps. I believe I could live happily with them. This of course, makes for a problem: do I buy the Pass amps (probably the 160.8s, which, BTW, Kent described as "one of the best amplifiers ever made, in my opinion" - and he didn't strike me as man prone to hyperbole!) without hearing them, risking being disappointed if I don't like them as much as the Macs. Or buy the Macs and be happy that I liked them so much and know I can be happy with them long-term. My "gut" tells me that the Pass amps do all what the Macs do but even better. (Kent mirrored
tjassoc's feelings about their ability to bring the recording venue into the room, saying the .8 series is even better at this than the .5 series. As I said, the Macs were pretty good at this too, and I found it VERY compelling!!) So, I've got some thinking to do over the next couple of days and a hard decision to make. If anyone else out there has any experience hearing these two amplification systems, I'd VERY much appreciative hearing from you.
