Amplifier for Harbeth 40.2

I have not heard the L2 monoblock with vinnie preamp with 40.2 but its more expensive than the pass 260.8 monoblock and pass preamp combo (pass have steep discount off MSRP) and possess less power......

Furthermore, I am not sure whether people at shows listening to analog as well as digital...if analog often they use a super pricey TT

As to contention wide range of music played with the combo that might have been so But my experience at audio shows is manufacturers play audiophile music or at least album that make their equipment sound best....most attendees bring well recorded music...

At home I play music that range from well recorded to average sounding to poorly recorded to ones decently recorded but too much bass or treble....

It is probably a great choice but not sure the better choice.....

All else being equal I would go with the more powerful monoblock amp
But many roads to rome

Only one road leads to Rome and that is always mono blocks, whatever the brand.

People telling me pass 260.8 monoblocks overkill but damn soundwise great makes me kinda curious about the 600.8....

Strikes me that one perhaps unusual feature of the Harbeth's is how they respond to lots of amps of different wattage.  I'm sure they'd sound great with 600.8's; personally, I'd be much more curious to hear them mated with a XA25.

Owning 3 different pairs of Harbeth speakers, if I were to "win" a pair of 40s, I would go solid state. The HL5s remained pretty dark with up to 70 watts of EAR  tube power. But when there is that Benchmark Amp out there now, no excuses are left.