Pass Labs “House Sound” vs. McIntosh “House Sound”

@lalitk That would probably help!

I have a set of the PS Audio BHK300 monoblocks, which are driving a set of Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signatures.  I also have a DEQX Premate for Speaker/Room correction.  All of my power cables are Shunyata Research and interconnects are Audioquest Colorado XLRs.  

All, thank you for the comments.

@stereo5 That question cuts deep!  I do like the C2500, 85% of the time.  On most of the music I listen to, it is a pretty full sound, so to speak.  I often wondered if I was missing out on some lower end energy and details in other ranges.

I do have a REL sub, which is blended quite well into the overall presentation/soundstage, but I often think I’m missing some 200hz and below or it’s getting sucked out of the source material.  I’ve sent the room response curves off to GIK, which they provided room analysis on a different room and recommendations for treatment.  I used the same panels, in the same locations.  GIK didn’t identify anything that could be treated, as the room responded ideally to the current panel setup.  

I’ve made adjustments to the DEQX, with a little bit of success.  In all, actually, there’s nothing wrong with the C2500 and I have nothing but positives to share regarding it.  If anything, it’s me tricking myself into believing I’m missing something.  That, and like many in this industry as a hobbyist, we like to fiddle, tinker and experience our music in new ways.  

From a listening perspective, I’ve always gravitated towards less colorization, give it to me as it was recorded.  I prefer to hear all the details.  

@unsound
 I did pull the C2500 out of the chain, along with my Direct Stream Jr.  The DEQX DAC, not bad at all, but it’s a little too digital sounding, to my ears.  I also believe I failed to mention I use the DSJ as my DAC.  I also got out of the vinyl game about a year ago, so I have no requirement for a phono stage.

@almarg Thanks Al!  That’s a great thread.  Correct in my signal chain.  I’ll swap out to RCA’s, see if that alters.  I do believe I may be approaching the point where an additional sub will have to be deployed, right now I just have 1.  

I’m using the RCA sub preout into the REL.  Interestingly, REL is imparting their filtering philosophy across all inputs, which made it a bit of a challenge to tame it with the DEQX.  There’s a massive spike at 50hz, stretching about 6db down to 30hz and 6db down to 80hz, which revealed itself when Larry/DEQXpert was comparing phasing and room measurements.  In light of this, I’ve been debating on replacing the REL as well.  

@jbrrp1 thanks for the input.  You are 100% correct, their equipment does deliver and the industry needs more folks like Paul and his employees running these audio companies.  I've attempted to not like their equipment, rather, initially I attempted to be very biased.  Having lived in Colorado, it was super easy for me to demo.  Once the monoblocks were hooked up, there was no turning back.  Same happened with the DSJ.  

I had spent about 2 weeks with the BHK pre, I did like it.  I'll admit, it took me a few days to get used to it.  In the end, the lack of tone controls prevented me from swapping out my C2500 for it.  In my previous listening room with sound treatment, the speakers just didn't have enough room to breath and produced awkward "slurring/sibilance" scenarios.  We've since moved and the odd ball higher frequencies are no longer present.  At that time, I had to tone them down with a few notches of treble.  I figure if the road does lead to the BHK pre, I won't have much of an issue selling the Pass Labs.  With the DEQX, I have way more control over the sound than anyone could ever really need or want.  Due to this, the lack of tone controls on both the BHK and Pass Labs won't be an issue.  

I pulled the trigger on the Pass Labs, I'll see how I like it and if not, I'll pick up the BHK pre.  

Thanks for your input!

@david_ten Thanks for the input.
@jafant I’ll post up after I’ve had for about a month.

@almarg Hey Al, I’m going RCA/sub preout from the DEQX into the REL.

@almarg I do use the DEQX volume control for the sub.  I put in a set of RCA's, but just get AC hum.  I unplugged the unit, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then plugged back in and turned on...same result.  Read through the manual, I didn't see anything that indicated one needed to select an output, other than the analog, analog/digital pulldown.  Switched between those, same result.  Possibly, the analog jumpers are set to high?

@rost it’s preowned, so I don’t think I’ll need the 500 hours of break in!  But, I appreciate your comments and am super pumped to get it integrated.  The C2500 was the longest standing piece of my ever revolving/evolving gear setup.  Like a well loved family pet that has since passed, “You are gone, but not forgotten!”

@tzh21y I haven't listened to the MC275's in proper environment.  I don't call listening to them under powering a pair of Sonus Faber's at Best Buy an accurate assessment, which that's the only place I've ever really heard them.  

@len44 Wow, what a long strange trip it has been!  

I don’t own any of the gear that was originally posted with this, other than the DEQX Premate.  I did settle on the XP-20 and it did have a little more detail vs. the McIntosh.  But, since then, I sold off the PS Audio amps, and picked up a set of XA60.5’s.  I sold the Dynaudio’s and bought a set of Harbeth Super HL5+’s.  Upgraded the DirectStream Jr to a DirectStream and picked up an Aurender N100H.  I spent about 3 or 4 months A/Bing with and without the XP-20. To me, it sounded better without the XP-20 in the chain.  So, now, I run no preamp, it’s just direct out of the DirectStream into the XA60.5’s.