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Parasound - Pass Labs - VTL - Krell Amp Selection

Hi,
I noticed a similar thread to this a few days ago, from Punkawalla, but just wanted to add another variable or two.

I'm shopping for a new amp for Maggie 3.6's....the Krell I'm using is excellent, but I have the upgrade bug and would like a little more power for the 3.6's.

I've seen a few decent amps and just wanted some opinions to help me unravel the options and hopefully make the best choice.
Setup options steer me toward monoblocks, these provide the easiest integration into my room with WAF considerations.

I hope Sean spots this thread, since I know he has respect for Nelson Pass and John Curl, and wondered if ultimately he had a preference.
The amps I've shortlisted are all available used on 'Gon and I'm listing the prices to help with perspective:

Krell 350Mcx Mono's $7700
Pass X600 $6500
Parasound JC1's $3700
VTL 450's $4500

The Krell's at $7k+ are a little more than I want to pay, though if I could justify the higher price based on margin of improvement over the others, I would probably stretch to it.
The JC 1's seem like an absolute bargain, so much so that I'm skeptical if they can really compete against say the X600's with an original $16,000 retail.

The VTL's really whet my appetite, since I'm a tube kinda guy at heart. But, since I've bypassed fuses on the 3.6's, I must have peace of mind that the amps are capable of delivering the current that these speakers need and that there is no clipping at high SPL's. Also, I need to know that the internal protection circuitry is of high integrity....I don't want a tube failure taking out my tweeter(s).
I've read that the JC1's and the X600's have 'tube like' quality, so I guess I'm trying to achieve 95% of what tubes do best from a SS.

I've been trying different amps now for almost a year. My home office looks like an elephants graveyard (for amps and cables), and it has to stop!!
I need an amp that I can plug in and sit back and enjoy the music, without having to worry about power, or if I should have gone with tubes, or whatever else I worry about!!

My priorities are:
Good soundstage and presentation of scale.
Clarity - natural - openess.
Truth of timbre and natural non-fatiguing presentation- it all happens in the midrange for me.
Enough bass but not bass that overwhelms the midrange and hides inner detail.
Clean highs, maybe on the darker/warmer side of neutral.
Fluid - flowing presentation, not necessarily with the dynamic snap, pop and tizzle that many crave.

Everyone has a different opinion about these things I know, but I've had a lot of good advice here in the past, and I don't regret any choices I've made based on the advice that I've received.

Thanks much

Rooze
128x128rooze
spraglow
32 posts
 
I have owned JC-1 in a past. I don't know what it was but they didn't do anything well. I waited a month for them to open up (they weren't new when I got them anyway) but nothing happened. Make sure you listen to it before making a decision.

I own an old Krell FPB200 and like it better than my friends FPB400cx. The new Krells are indeed warm yet detailed but I find them a bit boring.

Can't comment on Pass or VTL
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
Not familiar with all those options you are considering, but I should add Gryphon as an alternative here. I own Pass now, but still missing some strong points that Gryphon has.

Fernando
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Roos, people have sold off amps such as above, including the X600 and VTL,
in favor an H2O amp. If I were you, I'd get the H2O Signature ($5k monos).
They exhibit all the attributes you are wanting, plus others you haven't
considered. These amps can work their magic on ANY speaker load at any
volume level, without ever loosing composure.

iceh2oaudio.com
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
632 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions. Muralman, I think you and I have 'talked' about the H2O's in the past. You sent me a contact for Henry, and I spoke with him and recieved some info. About that time the price of his Mono's went up a $1000 and it put me off taking the gamble on them. I picked up a pair of Carver digital amps, and had one modified....
Anyway, I wouldn't take a chance on the H2O's without hearing them first in my system.

The pass 600's will probably drop a few more $$$ now that the new model is due to be released. In fact, a pair popped up here yesterday for $6250, which is the lowest I've seen. I'll probably drive the Carver for a while (which is a very nice amp in many ways) and wait for a sub $6k pair of Pass 600's to come along.

Rooze
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Well, it's your choice. Did you talk to Henry about a trial run? The Carver is a nice amp, but it is a Tripath amp, and that is an amp of a different species. I have the H2O Signatures, as you know. I also owned X600 amps. At $5k new, I consider the H2O Sig a steal over a used $6k X600. There literally is little comparison sound wise.
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