Pass labs XA-160.8 monos - or -  Mark Levinson 536 monos for Magico's


If you had to chose today / now one of these sets of mono-blocks for same money what would you choose?

Pass labs XA-160.8 monos

- or -  

Mark Levinson 536 monos

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Associated gear

Source
Bricasti M1SE w/M12 built in ethernet media player
SGC sonicTranporter Roon Server w/Uptone JS-2 LPS
TLS OCXO ethernet Switch & 912 OCXO LPS
TLS Reference CAT7 ethernet cable loom
TLS Reference DC cable loom

Preamp
(Either Mark Levinson 523 or Pass Labs XP-30) based on monos chosen

Speakers
Magico S5 MK II

Cables
Kubala-Sosna Emotion/Elation Full Loom

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https://www.passlabs.com/amplifier/xa160.8

https://www.marklevinson.com/productdetail/~/product/no536.html


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Showing 6 responses by fsmithjack

My heart says Pass but my Brain says Mark Levinson.

I wish I would hear both or either in my system - 

Not buying brand new.

Has anyone heard these new Mark Levinson amps. They are their - we are back products. They built a brand new facility and hired the old heard of Krell away and spent a ton of money re-ivigerating the ML brand and this amp and the stereo version are their new products!

Anyone hear either of them?. 
Luxman's are out of my price range. I would be able to just get one M-900u for close in price to other mono's.

My Magico S5 MK II need more. I almost went with one then upgraded later but I know how I am and would not have been happy with one and after this purchase my audio funds will be kaput so want to get enough amp for what I can afford but yes these are the amps I would get if I could afford them. 

As far as the Bricasti's. They are out of my price range also but there is a used pair of out there but even those are a bit out of my range but I love Bricasti for all their digital but for amps I like the amp companies for amps. I don't want a Pass Labs or Mark Levinson DAC but the Luxman does make a pretty nice SACD player but when it comes to Bricasti I don't there is anything better. Not even DCS.. 


AtmaSphere is cool and not something even on my radar. Thanks 

VAC - one of these just showed up on here. How are these? There are no reviews or anything but VAC is known as great stuff. Anyone hear of this preamp?

VAC PHI 2.0 Preamp



https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9c3gf-vac-phi-2-0-preamp-tube
Going for the Pass Labs XA160.8 Mono-Blocks and now trying to find a good matching preamp. Thinking maybe a neutral sounding tube preamp. What do you guys think?

Nagra Jazz or maybe Zanden 3100?

Any thoughts, idea or recommendations? 

I did choose to listen to them both and then I purchased the Pass Labs 160.8 which I loved until I listened to the best amp I’ve ever heard. It absolutely blew mind and it let me sell both my preamp and mono blocks. I purchased the incredible Ypsilon Phaethon and I’ve not heard anything better including much more Ypsilon separates. I’ve never head a component thread the needle between tubes and SS. It’s sounds like neither and both. It’s an end of the road component.

I just wrote and updated how I now own the absolutely outstanding Ypsilon Phaethon Integrated Amplifier which is one of the most unique and innovative amps made?