My system is WiiM pro ( a great device for $149 !) and a Cambridge CXC V2 CD transport for digital input going into a Schiit Yggdrasil+ DAC going to a Schiit Freya+ preamp into a PS Audio S300 amp into Harbeth 30.2 XD speakers. I am considering replacing the S300 with one of the following: PASS XA-25, Coda S5.5, Benchmark AHB2, or tube Primaluna EVO 400, used Rogers EHF-100 or 200, used Luxman MQ 88uc. I like my current system and wonder if an amp change would improve it significantly ?
@carl292Sorry for your loss. I have not heard of Judge Joe Lodge though I did once get dismissed for jury selection in SB. I think the judge was a bit amused at how that happened with my interaction with the prosecuting lawyer.
My wife may have heard about him since she worked as a nanny when she first came to the US with a prominent family involved in the legal system. She was at the Michael Jackson trial but almost got kicked out of the court because of her disapproval facial expressions during the trial.
I am a firm believer in keeping everything in the same manufacturer if possible…I would get rid of everything you have and go all in with PS Audio…a full bloom..amp, preamp,Dac, streamer and speakers…you can’t do that with to many manufacturers….other wise stay the same…a different amp won’t help you…
To answer your question, no, an amp will not significantly improve (or hurt) a system regardless of what the sufferers of expectation bias will tell you.
The above should be ignored at all costs. Just silly advice on any level....
Of the amps you have listed I can vouch for the Coda s5.5 It has 100 amps of high current and should drive the 6 ohm Harbeth easily. It is a very good amp, I love mine. My system is in my user page. What I love about my Coda is it tells you everything that's going on, yet is so sweet and delicate with a midrange tonality I have yet to hear better. (Better than my old VAC amp) I have never heard Harbeth speakers before but I have read that their known for their fantastic midrange. The Coda may work well to bring that out of them for you. Good luck with your search. Reach out to @vinylvaletfor info on the Coda if interested, he is a great guy to deal with.
@yyzsantabarbaraIf you are from Santa Barbara you might know or heard of my brother-in-law Judge Joe Lodge who passed recently after being the longest serving judge in California history.
My opinion: run away from benchmark unless you like highly detailed sound! Check out the newer PS Audio amps/integrated amps, much better sounding than their older stuff. In the past, I purchased the top of the line Hegel integrated amps over the pass integrated, the Hegel sounded more natural and had a lot more power. Then when I got bigger speakers I went with the newer BHK PS Audio separate amp. Even the new class D ps audio amps sound very good.
Another opinion since your all digital like I am, I go straight from my dac to my amp, no need for a preamp as long as your dac has very good volume control. When I sold off all my analog stuff many years ago, I had a $5000 preamp and when I bypassed the preamp and went straight from the dac to the amp, sq improved, so I sold the preamp with the extra set of cables.
@OP GHD Prentice's post sums up the amplifiers very well. I would also add that if you like your Harbeths, then you will like the Pass. However, if you predominantly listen to rock music or large scale classical, and depending on your room size and seating position, you might want something with a bit more power - but that needs to be real power and not just watts on paper.
I tried the Freya+ with the CODA #8 and did not like the amount of warmth I had. I liked the AHB2 and Freya+ the best with all the amps I used with the Freya+. I was not a big fan of the Freya+ and find that the Claas A Schitt Mjolnir v3 is better than the Freya+. Though it does not have a remote.
You have a lot of warm gear piling on top of each other. I know people like that type of setup, but I find a nudge towards neutrality when having a lot of warm gear really works for me. That is why the Benchmark AHB2 is what I would use if you keep the Freya+.
The Yggi+ LIM is my warm DAC. I need it for my bright headphones, where the Yggi+ OG is too revealing.
The AHB2 can be obtained from Benchmark for a 30-day home trial. If you want to spend a lot more the SimAudio 761 amp is what I consider the next version of the AHB2.
Another option is keeping all of the existing gear and try the Benchmark LA4 replacing the Freya+. It will be a totally different sound. A home demo is another option for the LA4.
BTW - I am trying to sell my Sanders Magtech (500 | 900 @ 8 | 4) that I use with Magnepan Minis because I need a different standby setup than the Sanders uses (it is automatic). It is an excellent amp. I am thinking of the new Schitt Wutan which can be put to standby manually. The Sanders would work nicely like the AHB2 to balance out a warm setup. It is warmer than the AHB2,
My room is 12' X 24' and heavily carpeted. I run the Freya+ in tube mode. I forgot to mention I have a REL T/5X Sub. My cables are Audioquest, Kimber, and Cardas lower end. I had a Marantz model 8B amp and 7C preamp running Rogers LS3/5A speakers and I loved it. Lots of helpful comments so far and I appreciate all of them. Another idea would be mono blocks like Schiit Tyr. BTW, the book Schiit Happened by Jason and Mike available on Amazon is an excellent read imo.
Changing your power amplifier can improve your system, but as the saying goes, “it all depends.” I changed from a highly-rated tube amp to Odyssey Kismet solid state monobloc amps that are twice as powerful as the stereo tube amp. The change was dramatic and instantly noticeable. It depends, however, on your preferences and the specific characteristics of the power amplifier involved. My earlier change from a highly-rated solid state amplifier to the tub amplifier did not sound as well, hence the switch back to a solid state power amp with my Rogue Audio tube preamplifier.
Let your ears be the judge, but there is very good counsel be had in this forum.
To answer your question, no, an amp will not significantly improve (or hurt) a system regardless of what the sufferers of expectation bias will tell you.
The S300 is a fine amp for the price, but for me the Pass was much better sounding...don't know your speakers though...some love Benchmark, but very many do not...
I have the 30,2 40th anniversary (almost the same as the XD) and matched it with a Pass Labs XA25. It is a match made in heaven. Don't know about your room size but, it is plenty for mine of 20x12. If you want some info about the combo, please check Herb Reichert's review in Stereophile Mar 2018. The interconnect is a RCA Cardas Rev1 and a good match with the Pass. I have tried different stands and highly recommend the Ton Trager. More expensive but it makes Shaw's cabinets sing because of their resonance configuration. Keep us posted about your choice for a new amp.
A note, on your list are radically (!) different sounding amps. The Pass will be very natural sounding, and perform as if it has much more power than the specs would suggest. I think it would be an excellent choice to help your system be much more musical. On the other hand Benchmark (or the Luxman to a bit lessor extent)is highly detailed oriented and is going to reinforce the leanness of the other components in your system. One of the big differences in better systems is they can be more fleshed out and sound much more natural sounding. The CODA will be in between. If you like a very detailed analytical and a strong bass slap (somewhat artificial) the the Benchmark Luxman side, CODA in the middle as is the Rouge (although it is tubed… it doesn’t have the refinement of better tube designs) or the Pass for more musical and natural.
I prefer nartural and musical sound that is still detailed, not in your face, but laid back with a deep - wide sound field… I’d choose the Pass. I had a Pass amps for several decades.
I agree with @audphile1, I would go with a bit more horsepower, even if you don’t listen at higher volumes. I own the Coda #8 v1, and while I have not heard the PS Audio amp, I feel it would be a significant upgrade.
I would recommend more power than the minimum required 25w for these speakers. Keep that in mind. Coda S5.5 should be fine but I would probably opt for No.8 V1 just to get more headroom. Not familiar with other amps in your list never heard them. I used to own Pass XA30.8 though and it did drive my Wilson Sabrina ok but it left Class A frequently to deliver more power.
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