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

You could find a used michi m5 or m8 but the m8 is more expensive but sounds great and power any speaker.read the review of the m5.enjoy the search.

The Verity are not going anywhere ;) The amp may change,  the preamp too....but not the speakers. 

If you are in Europe, you absolutely must research the Symphonic Line amplifiers made in Germany.

Accuphase built to very high standards…they don’t breakdown easily. Consider their latest A48S, which has more than enough power to drive your speakers. As @tomcy6 pointed out…low distortion, tube like harmonics that Pass Labs and Luxman simply cannot match. I choose Accuphase over T+A, Dartzeel, Pass and Luxman to pair with my Canterbury’s. 

If you're in Europe, the Rotel Michi M8 monoblocks could be auditioned/buy used or new. It may be a better route to futureproofing as you can throw any and every speaker at it, i.e., when you move on from that Verity Audio someday.

 

 

I have owned Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation speakers since 2010 driven mostly by a Luxman L-509u integrated amp and more recently by a class A Luxman L-595A SE integrated amp which sounded lovely as did an Accuphase E-380 120W class A/B integrated amp.

Last year I had a chance to acquire a pair of Verity Audio Arindal speakers - one size up from the Parsifal but a little more sensitive at 93 dB (vs 89 dB for the Parsifal). I drove them for a short time with the L-595A which I replaced with an Accuphase A-48 amp and C-2900 preamp. What a wonderful combination! The Luxman L-595A was my introduction to class A amps, but the A-48 took everything to the next level.

Accuphase class A amps are legendary - from their integrated amps like the E-650, E-800 to separates such as the A-48, A-80 or A-300.

I would highly recommend pairing Verity Audio speakers with Accuphase or Luxman amps - but especially Accuphase.

 

The A-300 is a beast....almost like the one I already have. The problem with these big expensive amps is that it is almost impossible to service them if they breake after the guaranty is gone. I don't have the money to send them around the world for service. The last problem with the ML was 3.000 USD. That's why I want a more "normal" amp.

Like I said above, probably not enough power. Make sure you can audition before purchase or buy it used.

I wouldn't rule out the Accuphase, but I would give it a listen before buying. Some people do feel that Accuphase is polite, but to me it is just very low distortion.  

As far as matching with your speakers, Accuphase claims to double down to 1 ohm..  The December 2023 Stereophile has a review and measurements of the A-300, which is not exactly what you want, but may be helpful.  The A-300 also was named Amplification Component of the Year in the December 2024 Stereophile.  Don't count it out without hearing it.

The XA-25 is one to audition then. The Parsifals can produce big amounts of low frequencies in my room depending on placement so maybe they work fine with the XA-25?

 

I had the XA-25.  It is really good and will replace 18 Wpc no problem.  I used it with 50W min speakers.  There were a rare few recordings that would clip the highs momentarily at loud levels and I sold it.  That was a mistake.  I now have Corwalls driven by the Pass Int-25.  The XA was in another league with a good tube pre.  It was neutral, no sound of its own, and never sterile.  I found the bottom octave very well defined but weak.  A REL sub blended transparently and it was truly Really good.   Impressive dynamics, noise floor and drive.

Your room is almost the same size as mine. Last year I briefly owned the Parsifal Ovation, great speaker BTW. I have my doubts that the XA25 will be enough. It depends on what you listen to and how loud. The Parsifal is a pretty demanding speaker IMHO. More (and quality) power will be rewarded.

I tested the Pass 250.8 at home with other speakers (Audio Physic Cardeas) but I was not impressed. I hear people saying the XA 25 is a different Pass. Can someone comment on that?

Luxman don't have many power amps to choose from....i think.

I play only HD-files from my hard drive so an integrated is a waste of money. Maybe a Pass HPA-1 can be my future preamp and I get a nice phone amp as well.

Pass has it's own sound and you 100% need to listen first, as some reach nirvana and others can't spend much time listening to it.  

Luxman and Ayre should also be considered.  Ayre too has it's own sound and some fall in love with it.  I'm on team Lux myself.

Pass would by my recommendation, but you should audition it with your speakers to verify that it's enough power.