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Parasound - Pass Labs - VTL - Krell Amp Selection

Hi,
I noticed a similar thread to this a few days ago, from Punkawalla, but just wanted to add another variable or two.

I'm shopping for a new amp for Maggie 3.6's....the Krell I'm using is excellent, but I have the upgrade bug and would like a little more power for the 3.6's.

I've seen a few decent amps and just wanted some opinions to help me unravel the options and hopefully make the best choice.
Setup options steer me toward monoblocks, these provide the easiest integration into my room with WAF considerations.

I hope Sean spots this thread, since I know he has respect for Nelson Pass and John Curl, and wondered if ultimately he had a preference.
The amps I've shortlisted are all available used on 'Gon and I'm listing the prices to help with perspective:

Krell 350Mcx Mono's $7700
Pass X600 $6500
Parasound JC1's $3700
VTL 450's $4500

The Krell's at $7k+ are a little more than I want to pay, though if I could justify the higher price based on margin of improvement over the others, I would probably stretch to it.
The JC 1's seem like an absolute bargain, so much so that I'm skeptical if they can really compete against say the X600's with an original $16,000 retail.

The VTL's really whet my appetite, since I'm a tube kinda guy at heart. But, since I've bypassed fuses on the 3.6's, I must have peace of mind that the amps are capable of delivering the current that these speakers need and that there is no clipping at high SPL's. Also, I need to know that the internal protection circuitry is of high integrity....I don't want a tube failure taking out my tweeter(s).
I've read that the JC1's and the X600's have 'tube like' quality, so I guess I'm trying to achieve 95% of what tubes do best from a SS.

I've been trying different amps now for almost a year. My home office looks like an elephants graveyard (for amps and cables), and it has to stop!!
I need an amp that I can plug in and sit back and enjoy the music, without having to worry about power, or if I should have gone with tubes, or whatever else I worry about!!

My priorities are:
Good soundstage and presentation of scale.
Clarity - natural - openess.
Truth of timbre and natural non-fatiguing presentation- it all happens in the midrange for me.
Enough bass but not bass that overwhelms the midrange and hides inner detail.
Clean highs, maybe on the darker/warmer side of neutral.
Fluid - flowing presentation, not necessarily with the dynamic snap, pop and tizzle that many crave.

Everyone has a different opinion about these things I know, but I've had a lot of good advice here in the past, and I don't regret any choices I've made based on the advice that I've received.

Thanks much

Rooze
rooze

Showing 9 responses by muralman1

muralman1
1,527 posts
 
No problem Guidocorona,

Yeah, the voracious Scintilla. It screams, "Give me more!" Well, we found a match finally.

Henry has relocated to the Washington DC area. He told me they are having a house built. Meanwhile, amp production is keeping up with demand.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Roos, people have sold off amps such as above, including the X600 and VTL,
in favor an H2O amp. If I were you, I'd get the H2O Signature ($5k monos).
They exhibit all the attributes you are wanting, plus others you haven't
considered. These amps can work their magic on ANY speaker load at any
volume level, without ever loosing composure.

iceh2oaudio.com
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Well, it's your choice. Did you talk to Henry about a trial run? The Carver is a nice amp, but it is a Tripath amp, and that is an amp of a different species. I have the H2O Signatures, as you know. I also owned X600 amps. At $5k new, I consider the H2O Sig a steal over a used $6k X600. There literally is little comparison sound wise.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Rooze, now you are talking. I will see what I can do. I know he is preparing amps to go out to reviews.

Loud and Clear, and the rest, I certainly know synergy is the key. I have a borrowed Adcom I am using. It can go passive, or active. The H2O sounds profoundly better going active. But then, so did the other digitals I've tried.

I've toted my amps from listening room to listening room, equipped with wide assortments of gear. My well broken in amps have won the day, each time. Of course, I brought my Adcom... just in case there was a passive pre in play. ;)

Another thing I have found out. I'm sure this pertains to the Carver too. Ultra clean and fast amps will lay naked any flaw in your system unmercifully.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Guiocorona, see Scott's H2O review in Audio Asylum/Planars and Ribbons. Scott is running the H2O on Maggies.

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/messages/73368.html
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Scott's music appreciation certainly took a mega-leap, when he replaced an Aragon with the H2O. I didn't read his review as a comparison between the two, though.

Others have replaced VTL, Krell, Pass Labs, Bel Canto, etc. Have you read the other owner reviews on the H2O site? They are in a similar vein, some less passionate than others.

6moons, and Stereotimes will be doing reviews. The amps will be featured in the HE show in New York.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Did I already mention I owned X600 monos? If so, sorry about the redundancy, but The H2O exhibits more clarity, has greater bass control, is more powerful, liquid, and a lot faster.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
One can only truthfully comment on audio components they have listened to extensively, preferably in their own system. I am the only one who has experienced both the X600, and the H2O in the same system. One major critic of my speaker of choice, upon first hearing the H2O on my Scintillas, said, "This is the finest I have ever heard your system."

There is a new review of the H2O here on Audiogon.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1103079446&read&3&4&
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