The Pass amps are a tad on the warm side, but not as hot as the earlier Aleph series.
The store that I was able to hear the Theta's at did a very poor demo, so I left with less than enthusiastic feelings for the Theta. You know how it is; you hear a bad demo, and even though you know it is probably not the amp's fault, the back of your mind always holds the demo against the amp.
Since, other than that demo, I have heard nothing but good about them I am sure that the Theta kicks ass.
Another set of amps that runs cool and has great sound are the Spectron Musician II and III amps.
My approach is to get, or make, a speaker which presents a tame load to an amp. This allows much more in the way of choices of amplifiers. Many amps, such as Pass and Theta, are expensive because they are made to drive horrible loads. The same sound can be had for much less money if the load is reasonable.
Right now, if I had to make a choice which amp I would want for full-range use, on my speakers, taking in each amps flaws and virtues, I would honestly go with my Bryston 4BSST. I prefer it, overall, to my Spectron, Threshold, and my Atma-Spere amps. It just gives more overall pleasure, perhaps because of the delicious midrange. And it is an easy amp to relax to. Mind you, it is not a fight-to-the-death preference; any of the above amps please me as did many others that I have had in my home. My listening bias is toward the bass and midrange caring not as much for the highs.(Though with ribbons the highs are almost a given.)
I should be a tube man based on that but I find most (but by no means all) tube gear too "dirty" and unbalanced for my ears.
The store that I was able to hear the Theta's at did a very poor demo, so I left with less than enthusiastic feelings for the Theta. You know how it is; you hear a bad demo, and even though you know it is probably not the amp's fault, the back of your mind always holds the demo against the amp.
Since, other than that demo, I have heard nothing but good about them I am sure that the Theta kicks ass.
Another set of amps that runs cool and has great sound are the Spectron Musician II and III amps.
My approach is to get, or make, a speaker which presents a tame load to an amp. This allows much more in the way of choices of amplifiers. Many amps, such as Pass and Theta, are expensive because they are made to drive horrible loads. The same sound can be had for much less money if the load is reasonable.
Right now, if I had to make a choice which amp I would want for full-range use, on my speakers, taking in each amps flaws and virtues, I would honestly go with my Bryston 4BSST. I prefer it, overall, to my Spectron, Threshold, and my Atma-Spere amps. It just gives more overall pleasure, perhaps because of the delicious midrange. And it is an easy amp to relax to. Mind you, it is not a fight-to-the-death preference; any of the above amps please me as did many others that I have had in my home. My listening bias is toward the bass and midrange caring not as much for the highs.(Though with ribbons the highs are almost a given.)
I should be a tube man based on that but I find most (but by no means all) tube gear too "dirty" and unbalanced for my ears.