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Krell vs Levinson vs Pass vs Rowland

I know there have been many threads about these amps, however none which addresses these 4 together. I would like to spend between $3-3,500 used and I have narrowed my search to the final 4:

Levinson 334
Krell FPB 200
Rowland Model 10 ???
Pass X250

Which amp has the greatest transparency, best imaging, and will throw the deepest, widest soundstage? I know all will have sufficient bass and satisfying highs, so I am not concerned with those attributes.

I know there will be other suggestions besides these 4 amps mentioned here, but I am really concerned with narrowing these 4 down to 1 first!! Please do not respond with suggestions for other amps. Thanks for any help with this!!
platsolos
dml1
23 posts
 
Lets see, you have Rowland, which is very music sounding, and then there is Krell and the rest.
aball
2,018 posts
 
May be overkill at this point but I would say Rowland too. The MLs seem somewhat dead with most speakers I have heard them on, Krell is not smooth enough, and the Pass Labs go against all logic for longterm use with their ridiculous no-feedback circuits - although they do sound good for the first year. Rowland is beautiful sounding (almost as good as my favorite McIntoshes) and good design. In being an electronics engineer, I rank circuit design second to music in importance). Listen to them all if you can first however and decide for yourself.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Since all we are doing with this thread is voicing which product lines we personally prefer, mark me down for either the Pass or Rowland. I agree with a previous comment that the Rowland will probably hold its value the best. Sean
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patent
16 posts
 
Pass claims their new XA line maintains the clarity of the X series without the coolness.

Pass' US patent 5,376,899 shows the balanced input in the X and XA series. My understanding of the circuit is that it requires a balanced input, or else half the output stage is essentially idling, carrying nothing but the distortion cancelling signal.

Aball, why do you say the circuit uses no feedback? It uses local feedback, but not global.
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
Don't count on the Rowland holding its value. I had a Model 10 in like new condition a year ago and had to about give it away. The amp wasn't even a year old. It was amazing how little AudiogoN shoppers were willing to pay. Anyway, I replaced it with a Pass X-350 and haven't ever looked back. Also, don't count on great customer support from Rowland. Meanwhile, the Pass people have been exceptionally responsive.
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