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Parasound - Pass Labs - VTL - Krell Amp Selection

Hi,
I noticed a similar thread to this a few days ago, from Punkawalla, but just wanted to add another variable or two.

I'm shopping for a new amp for Maggie 3.6's....the Krell I'm using is excellent, but I have the upgrade bug and would like a little more power for the 3.6's.

I've seen a few decent amps and just wanted some opinions to help me unravel the options and hopefully make the best choice.
Setup options steer me toward monoblocks, these provide the easiest integration into my room with WAF considerations.

I hope Sean spots this thread, since I know he has respect for Nelson Pass and John Curl, and wondered if ultimately he had a preference.
The amps I've shortlisted are all available used on 'Gon and I'm listing the prices to help with perspective:

Krell 350Mcx Mono's $7700
Pass X600 $6500
Parasound JC1's $3700
VTL 450's $4500

The Krell's at $7k+ are a little more than I want to pay, though if I could justify the higher price based on margin of improvement over the others, I would probably stretch to it.
The JC 1's seem like an absolute bargain, so much so that I'm skeptical if they can really compete against say the X600's with an original $16,000 retail.

The VTL's really whet my appetite, since I'm a tube kinda guy at heart. But, since I've bypassed fuses on the 3.6's, I must have peace of mind that the amps are capable of delivering the current that these speakers need and that there is no clipping at high SPL's. Also, I need to know that the internal protection circuitry is of high integrity....I don't want a tube failure taking out my tweeter(s).
I've read that the JC1's and the X600's have 'tube like' quality, so I guess I'm trying to achieve 95% of what tubes do best from a SS.

I've been trying different amps now for almost a year. My home office looks like an elephants graveyard (for amps and cables), and it has to stop!!
I need an amp that I can plug in and sit back and enjoy the music, without having to worry about power, or if I should have gone with tubes, or whatever else I worry about!!

My priorities are:
Good soundstage and presentation of scale.
Clarity - natural - openess.
Truth of timbre and natural non-fatiguing presentation- it all happens in the midrange for me.
Enough bass but not bass that overwhelms the midrange and hides inner detail.
Clean highs, maybe on the darker/warmer side of neutral.
Fluid - flowing presentation, not necessarily with the dynamic snap, pop and tizzle that many crave.

Everyone has a different opinion about these things I know, but I've had a lot of good advice here in the past, and I don't regret any choices I've made based on the advice that I've received.

Thanks much

Rooze
128x128rooze
tsmack
35 posts
 
I own the X600s and have compared them to both nice SS amps and tube amps. I went with the Pass X600s for a few reasons:

1. I feel the X600s meet in the middle having stellar highs and solid bass with a natural midrange making them very easy to enjoy.
2. Low maintenance - Pass Labs arguably has the best customer service in this business and their products are well built. Plus, there are no tubes to replace on a frequent basis that cost an arm and a leg.
3. Versatility - with a lot of power and a well balanced frequency response, the X600s will match well with many speakers making them an amplifier that you may never replace.

I love listening to music and with the Pass amplifiers I can listen without worrying about them breaking or the company going out of business. I have not heard the newer Krell models, but they are another company that is strong, yet I can not speak to their customer service. When I spend a lot of money on a piece of equipment, I want to feel safe about that purchase. The Pass was the only one that made me feel that way. Quality sound, quality product and quality company!
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Good soundstage and presentation of scale.
Clarity - natural - openess.
Truth of timbre and natural non-fatiguing presentation- it all happens in the midrange for me.
Enough bass but not bass that overwhelms the midrange and hides inner detail.
Clean highs, maybe on the darker/warmer side of neutral.
Fluid - flowing presentation, not necessarily with the dynamic snap, pop and tizzle that many crave.

The things you mention above you will get a little of in a stock amp, but probably not all of them, particularly the clarity and openness. None of these amps really delivery this stock. A Tube amp will come closest, but you will lose bass control and probably dynamics as well. Bass tightness comes with SS amps. This is what makes the bass non-fatigueing. The best in your list for bass tightness is the JC-1's. I have a lot of experience with them. If you look at the Stereophile review of the JC-1's you will see that the impedance is so low that even the simulated speaker load results in a flat frequency response. This is really unprecendented. Several of my customers have sold their Pass amps for the JC-1's because they are sweeter on the top end. The are very detailed there, but lack ultimate HF dynamics.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Did I already mention I owned X600 monos? If so, sorry about the redundancy, but The H2O exhibits more clarity, has greater bass control, is more powerful, liquid, and a lot faster.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Very intriguing Muralman! A comparison of H2O with X600 is exactly what I am seeking. Did you already mention in some thread what speakers you are driving?
Are you planning also to audition X600.5 when they become available after CES? It is my understanding that the new monos will be much improved.
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
580 posts
 
I guess all things come down to a dual between personal preference and system synergy.
No one can really comment with any degree of authority on a component outside of their own system. How on earth do you know how it will sound with my Magnepan's, fed by a signal from my ARC LS 15, with Virtual Dynamic speaker wires and in a room that is 25,000 cubic feet?
I've heard many good things about the JC1's and I've been very close to picking up a set. Heck they seem to be a bargain at under $3500 used. But instead, I went with a Carver ZR1600 and had it modified. It supposedly beats the JC1's and 'big' power amps from Krell and Pass. Well, it does in some respects beat the bigger Krells (MD 300's and FPB 200), but not hands down. So it comes down to personal preference. Are the areas in which the Carver surpasses the Krell of more importance to me than the areas in which the Krell surpasses the Carver?
No one can answer that, only me.

Rooze
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