Digital Amps vs Solid State Amps

Hi Rtn1,

I am sure that I would love the XA160.5 or XA200.5, as I thought the XA100.5 produced a beautiful sound in my system. The midrange and top end of the Pass is wonderful. I like the richness of the bass too, but with the Opus it is a bloomy bass more suited to classical music; it didn't have the micro-dynamics and pitch definition that made for great acoustic jazz bass when mated with the Opus. In my system, I never saw the Pass bias needles moving so I figured power was not the issue.

A friend of mine still owns the XA100.5 and another friend owns the XA160.5. Maybe if I hosted a nice dinner and promised to pay for their hernia surgeries, I might convince them to lug the amps over for a side by side comparison.

Alan

Aljordan, Can you tell me what bridge caps are in your H2O? I installed Soncap Platinum, and the result is perfect in my system.

Alan,

You may correct in a sense. I would not charactarize the Pass XA.5 bass as punchy or fast. Rather, it conveys a sense of weight and acoustic space, and does not draw attention to itself. It is very natural and realistic, as you say, for classical music. Whether the cello in a quartet, the left hand in a piano concerto, or the double bass section of an orchestra, everything is cohesive.

Hi Vince,

I don't know what is installed. I am currently using the pair Henry had been using in his system for the last year. He said they are the latest of whatever he stuffs into them. They sound very good.

Alan

Alan, There are just eight allen screws holding that top down. I know he put V caps in some of them, while others just have one Theta. I can tell you, I have had all three versions here, and the Sonicap Platinum is by far the best. It assists the highs in a natural way. All frequencies are even handed. The Theta sounds bland. The V cap is too aggressive.

On wires, Henry is using my SCs, and loves the hell out of them.