Most Refined? Plinius 102 - Bryston 4B - Pass 250

I agree that the sound was great in the Harbeth room and also in the Plinius room, where the SA102 was driving the Harbeth Super HL5's. Made we wonder about the TAS review of that amp. Made me want to get Harbeth speakers and then think about looking at a Plinius amp. Which was more responsible for the seductive sound in those rooms?.

I own the Plinius SA 102 hooked up direct to a Resolution Audio Opus 21 and driving Nautilus 803's. I think it sounds lovely, natural and very powerful whether in A/B or A.

I bet the Pass is nice too. I think there's a couple X250's and SA 102's for sale right now for about the same price.

Speakers make more of a difference in overall sound than amps do, IMHO.

-Ed

Considering that you've owned tubes, the Bryston will be the driest of the ones you've mentioned. I would consider Sim Audio Moon since you are looking at the likes of Plinius and Pass Labs.

Thanks for the responses gentelmen.

As for "which came first", I think the amplifier is AS important as the speaker for making good music. I don't think any speaker could sound good if the amp was passing junk forward.

What impressed me in the Harbeth room was a sense of precision coming from the monitor. A sense of absolute control that translates into a clearer sense of the event being recorded.

I've heard others say that tubes tend to homogenize the character of a system so everything you play feels the same.

My concern is that, while impressive in the short term, the SS effect may be fatiguing in long listening sessions.