I haven't considered the Hegel and I am not running anything right now. |
Kzhtoo I think your combo would be bit better than the INT-30 perhaps a little more resolution but it would be close.
CHuck |
I am curious to see the responses as I am thinking of buying
an INT-30A which will replace a Cary SLI-80 and drive a pair
of Focal 1007Be monitors. My Focals are 4 Ohm and are 89 SPL
and the Cary did a great job even in Triode which is where I
kept it most of the time. I looked up the specs on the PMC
FB1i's and read that they are 8 Ohm and 90 SPL so I would
think you would be ok. Reno offers a 10 day in home trial
which is what I am going to take advantage of if I decide to
try the PASS. I am also looking at the Ayon Audio Spirit III
which is a tubed unit.
Chuck |
Kzhtoo
What are you using for a pre-amp? And what type of music do
you listen to?
Thanks Chuck |
Thanks, How do you like the XP-10 ? Have you heard the XP-20 if so how do you think it compares to the XP-10? Have you heard any tubed pre's like cj? Sorry for all the questions I am looking into either an INT-30A or XA30.5/XP-10 or XP-20 with the possible exception of a cj tubed pre either the ET-5 or ET-3 driving my Focal 1007Be's.
Thanks Chuck |
Fiddlerontheroof I agree I need to stay with the XA series of amps as they are wonderful in their presentation. And I am sure mated with a XP 10 or 20 pre they would make a wonderful combination. And who knows I may end up with a pair of 1038 Be's.
Love your moniker by the way.
Chuck |
Thanks for the response..
I don't need HT by-pass and I had a Cary SLI-80 Tubed
Integrated that I liked but the Power Tubes are a pain and I
actually had one blow and it was not pretty. My wife and I
were standing right there, had we not it could have been
much worse; my wife was not happy.
Well I like to stay within the same Brand of amp and pre-amp
for system matching. I figure they design their equipment to
work together and be the best it can be.
I listen to primarily classical (Symphonic works and small
chamber stuff) and female jazz vocals (Jacintha, Krall and
Barber) along with some classic rock (Zeppelin, Floyd) at
what I would call moderate levels in a 14x24 ft room.
I have the opportunity to get a good price with a trade in
policy on an INT30A. Also has a 10 day return policy so I
may take a shot and see where it leads.
I like the Diablos but must confess I have never heard them.
The Focals are so transparent and throw a huge soundstage. I
really like them and they are much better than my previous
speakers and much more efficient.
|
I just pulled the trigger on the INT-30A from Mark .... Great
person to deal with ......
Chuck |
I agree with Charles1dad that Music is all about emotion and
you should buy the component that gives you the most
emotional impact.
I too have been a tube guy (Conrad Johnson, Cary SLI-80)
which makes me think I may not like the Pass. And if I don't
I will be sending it back to Mark per our agreement.
I will post my thoughts once I have a chance to listen to
it.
Problem is I had a power tube go with my wife and I standing
right there and it was nasty. So my wife now hates tubes in
general along with not liking this hobby much.
Chuck |
Tubes can be a real hassle and I always felt that I was
burning out those expensive NOS tubes every time I turned it
on. The Tubes need to be biased and then there is the heat
issues so your location must provide good ventilation.
My Cary SLI-80 was a beautiful sounding amp and very flexible.
Between the tube rolling and the triode and pentode
capabilities it was fun to play with and also looked good.
Chuck |
It is a fantastic Amp and much better than the Cary especially in the bass department. It has much better control over the speakers and gives better transparency and clarity to voices. The timbre or air around the instruments is better along with better clarity as well. I am hearing things in my recordings that I haven't heard before.
I really like the fact that I don't have to worry about the vacuum tubes and them burning out (wearing out) or the maintenance associated with them.
In general I would say the Cary put you more in the back row of the performance where the Pass puts you more up front. I am really enjoying the amp and not looking back.
The Cary was a F1 model with NOS tubes. Bugle boys (6dj8) in the pre-amp position along with Sylvania 6sn7wgta's in the driver position and new issue Genalex KT-88's / KT-77's and 5ar4's in the rectifier position.
The associated equipment is a VPI Classic 1 TT and a Herron VTPH-2 phono stage with NOS Telefunken Tubes in all 5 positions. HGA cabling (X-32 Speaker Cable and DNA Interconnects); Benz Micro Wood SL MC Cartridge. A Sony Highly Modded SCD-1. |
I listen mostly to vinyl and I would say in general it is a more refined amplifier than the Cary was. I listen to the sonic performance, do the instruments sound natural do hand claps sound real. I really don't want to let the design architecture (tube or ss) drive my sonic expectations.
Chuck |
Mark at Reno offers a 10 day in home trial all he asks is
that you pay the shipping if you decide to return it.
I am really surprised at how good this amp is. I was so
biased against it when I bought it figuring I would send it
right back. I have been curious to try a Pass Amp for
sometime so I figured this was a good opportunity. The only
reason I would send it back would be to move further up the
Pass line and Mark offers a generous trade in program so how
can you lose.
Good Luck on your search.
I wonder how good the Pass Phono Stages are? I have a Herron
VTPH-2 right now and it sounds great but can't help wonder
how the XP-15 sounds in comparison.
Chuck |
In the end the amp went back. Just not enough horsepower to drive the speakers on larger Symphonic works. Great Amp Though
and it played beyond what it's 30wpc would indicate.
Chuck |
Actually the Pass revealed the Cary's short comings as well and was the better amp of the two; more refined. So I am looking to move up in the Pass line at least at this time just not sure exactly which amp / pre-amp.
Chuck |
Yes they are the 1007 Be's. One of the issues with the INT-30 is that it doesn't have a meter so I really could not tell what was going. With some recordings Telarc Tchaikovsky 1812 overture, the digital canons for example, I thought the amp ran out of room. This seemed to occur on other recordings with a lot or percussion type passages. But it is hard tell for sure if it was the amp or the recording as recordings can vary greatly. I do know I ran the amp into the high end of the volume control. It maxes out at 63 and I ran it into the high 40's low 50's. This concerned me as I have never run a volume control this near it's max value.
But in general the amp was very good bettering the Cary in every way imaginable. This is why I think a jump up the Pass line perhaps the XA60's with a XP-10 or 20 would work very well and take away any issue with regards to power.
Chuck |
Fiddlerontheroof
Yes I think the INT-30 will meet your needs very well. It was a beautiful amp and performed admirably. I would recommend it highly.
I wonder if going to separates say the XA30 with an XP20 would provide a bit more gain and texture. I really hate the thought of more boxes by going with mono-blocs.
Chuck |
Drubin
It seemed to have the juice it was just that the INT-30 didn't have the head room I needed or so it seemed. All the way to the XA 200's Huh. Well I really don't want to put that kind of money into a pair of amps. Perhaps if I listened to it more I could somehow justify it but I don't. Maybe I need to find a more efficient pair of speakers or just settle for a less powerful amp and not turn it up so high. Or look for a higher powered Tube stereo amp like cj or arc. But then there is that Power Tube issue again.
Thanks Chuck |
Thanks I will check it out.
Chuck |
Looks like my other post went missing. Oh Well. Kzhtoo I know and agree about the monitors versus the full range towers. But I have more of a WAF issue than Money. |
Foot print is my issue with each amp the size of a small ARC Welder. Even though I have a pair on Hold my Wife is having major heartburn because of their size. |
Kzhtoo
Thanks for the recommendation I am looking at Scala/Maestro Utopia's. I am sure the Pass XA100.5's will be a great match.
Chuck |
Kzhtoo
I haven't done anything as I have been very busy with other things. How about you ?
CHuck |
I am still toying with the XA100.5's and an XP-20 but like you I dislike the thoughts of so many boxes. I have also looked into an Ayon Triton Integrated which is a tubed unit. However, I am not over joyed with the fact of going back to tubes again but one box is much simpler. So here I sit. Kzhtoo I don't remember what speakers you have but the Pass INT-30A might just fit the bill; that was a very good amp. |
No, I haven't. I have considered the VSi75 but I have heard nothing other than the reference 75 on which it is based is a great amplifier.
Chuck |
Kzhtoo
I was looking to see if it did and couldn't find anything so I don't think it does. Looks like only the pre-amps have a by pass feature. Too bad it won't work out for you because the INT-30 is a beautiful sounding amplifier.
Chuck |
I would think the H300 would be a better comparison and if the 200 is that good perhaps the 300 is worth considering. Also looking closer into the Boulder 865 integrated. I really would rather find an acceptable integrated instead of sticking 100 lb mono-blocs (xa100.5's) next to my speakers.
To Dongr I previously had a Cary SLI-80F1 and then a home audition of a Pass INT-30.
Chuck |
The Boulder lists for $12,500 so it is a bit on the pricey side for an Integrated and not sure it has all the features you are looking for.
Chuck |
Well it is looking like it is going to be XA100.5's
Chuck |
I will report back once I get things set up.
Chuck |
Kzhtoo
I haven't yet as I need to get the electronics figured out first. Yes that's correct I have Focal 1007Be's and looking to go to the Diablo's but not sure. Still looking to pull the trigger on a pair of Xa100.5's and perhaps an XP-20. I was hoping to find a one box solution but it is looking like that is not going to happen.
Chuck |
Kzhtoo
I have thought the same thing that the combination of amp (xa30) and pre-amp (xp10/20) might provide more drive than the integrated is capable of.
Chuck |
Haven't responded back with what direction I ended up going in . So here it is I ended up with the XA 100.5 amps and XP-20 Pre-Amp and the combination is excellent. The meters never move even during the loudest most dynamic symphonic passages. Even during the 1812 Overture when the Cannons go off. |
I still have my 1007 Be's but looking at Diablo. |
