Pass....Accuphase....or......


Hi Audiogoners!

I need a new power amp to my Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation (18 watts minimum recommended input power / 8 ohm).

Have a Mark Levinson No.532 that keeps broking down and it's getting too expensive to fix in Europe. 

Music: Classical/symphonic and jazz.

Room: 13 x 26

Preamp: Auralic DAC/Pre (but this can change....)

Ideas so far:

Pass Labs XA-25 (hype or really good and powerful enough?)

Accuphase A-48 (too polite?)

If you have a minute....I need ideas in that price range...+/- $$. Thanks!

 

southofdallas

I owned Pass, Accuphase, and Audio Research amplifiers and finally settled for the  Ypsilon Phaethon.

These are stellar sounding (harmonious, well defined and capable) amplifiers and their after sales device is incredibly good.

The amp has a discrete volume control with (I believe) 1bB steps.  I am perfectly happy with that, but this is a point of consideration. I own the “normal” version of the Phaethon whith a new price of around €. 18.000,-. 
 

I am confident the you will not regret trying one of these beauties before you make a final decision.

 

I have the Luxman MQ-88uC power amp. I got it used for about $3000, I changed to nos tubes. If you like a LUSH accurate amp try get one form Mucic Direct and try it out. It's 25 WPC and will easily drive 89 sensitivity . I have used it with Monitor audio, Triangle and KEF speakers. No issues,

@blue-magoo Man!....those Luxman MQ-88uC look good. And they seem to have a direct input that removes the level control from the circuit. Nice! What kind of speakers do you use with them?