Singular Amplification Experience; Review Now Published

douglas_schroeder OP
twoleftears, not to worry, I think things will even out over time. If people learn to put their hard earned money into the actual electronics that make the sound, that’s a good thing. It’s a whole lot better than me gushing over some ridiculously expensive amp stands for inconsequential electronics, don’t you think?

>>>>>First, no one said you have to gush over ridiculously expensive amp stands. We’re actually not even talking about amp stands, much less ridiculously expensive ones. If you’re happy with the “pure sound” of your ridiculously expensive amps without benefit of isolation more power to you. It’s actually not (rpt not) true that amps make the sound, the SYSTEM makes the sound. It’s the concept of isolation. A system engineer’s system will ALWAYS sound better than an electronics engineer’s system. 🤗 That’s why I am saying you’re an anti isolationist. 

select_hifi
I also use DH Super Cones and Squares under all my components and can say they have built on the strengths of the Podiums. The music is completely free from the Speakers, holographic very musical with effortless dynamics.

>>>>Another example of physics at work, extremely hard materials like DH (Diamond Hardness) ceramic cones ALWAYS SOUND better than softer materials like brass, aluminum and carbon fiber. Back when I was a dealer for DH Cones I had a great number of them and other sizes too, and the DH Squares, maybe 50, in my room. There are many uses for them, some of which are perhaps beyond scope of this discussion. 😬

I am drawing up a plan to do comparison of the following in combination:

Two identical systems, one with selected elements featuring burn in, warm up, support, isolation devices, and cable "settling" vs. the other with selected elements featuring none of them. It will be similar in methodology to my previous work in the article "Audiophile Law: Thou Shalt Not Overemphasize Burn In". 

recevs, I almost never pay attention to other reviewers' work primarily because I am so busy working on my own articles. Perhaps three times in 14 years have I read what someone else said in regard to a product I review. I could not have told you that Jason reviewed it. It was an interesting read, primarily as his methods and demo music are fundamentally different from mine, as will be seen clearly in parts 2 and 3 of my review.

In terms of the character of the amp, there is a notable difference in how we describe the bass; as the other amps compared in our reviews are distinct, a variance in experience should be expected. One can see in my review how the XA200.8 fares in comparison to other amps of similar power. Much of what Jason said in regards to the imaging, sound staging, headroom, etc. is quite similar to my impressions. Other than the bass, we reached a strikingly similar conclusion, and if we were both listening to the same systems, it is likely we would be in agreement on that aspect as well. 

Pass Labs must be quite pleased to have two distinctly different reviewers being harmonious in verdict. 

@douglas_schroeder 

Thank you for all your review hard work. Well done!