Amp opinions- ATI-B&K-Pass Labs

Hello Gelba4,
I would tend to agree w/Flemke. I own the Plinius SA-250 mkiv and this amp is awsome. But, in your case, I would recommend McCormack. I've heard both the DNA-125 and the '225 and both are excellent sounding amps. The '125 is cool and clean w/ very good detail and the '225 is the same w/a little more depth and more brute power. I beleive, IMHO, either of these amps would be a wonderful addition to your system. I've also heard that they are as smooth as tube amps. I cannot comment on this though, I've never listened to a tube amp. Now, if you wanted to step up the money some, plinius, again IMHO, is the best amp.

The Aleph P is wonderful and the Aleph 5 is also fabulous. Where I was coming from on the slow side was the generally undamped effect the 5 has in the bass side of things. I believe this is one of the reasons for the enjoment of the music, my system doesn't have the unrelenting signature of an SS system. Generally allowing the music to float and not be so driven! The 5 is alot of amp, previously I enjoyed SF Power 2 and the 5 easily keeps up with it on the power side and both do sound similar. I gave up the $800 tube bill for the 5 and have found a very good compromise in a SS amp.

Go with the Pass. It's a great amp, and the Beethovens are great speakers, I know, I own 'em. Take your time upgrading. Buy the Pass, even if it makes you wait a year or so until you can upgrade your preamp. It'll be worth it to take your time, and do it right. I have a Classe CP-60 preamp and a Threshold T400 amp driving my pair through Tara Labs RSC Master Gen II cables, and I'm very satisfied.
You have great speakers, take your time and build up your system around them.
I've also heard the Beethovens sound good with Classe amps.

John