Jafant...
Reply to a few posts back, no I never went about getting my 3.5's eq's modded into balanced mono operation because Rob @ Thiel more or less failed to see the benefit for me. I still have 2 eq's so if one fails... Besides, work has been consuming me since January - a good thing mostly!
Selling off my Pass is something you'd think I'd be regretting by now since I've had two and have mentioned my appreciation for its synergy with my Thiels. I stand by that even without owning one now.
Do I miss it now - replaced by the Simaudio Neo 340i integrated? Not really. Is it different? Yes. I almost had a Pass 150 Int but it slipped away before I could commit. Aaargh.
What eventually got my money is Simaudio's trade up program. Depending upon the piece of equipment and duration of ownership they offer a credit toward a new piece of up too 100% for the old. Not too shabby.
Comparatively speaking the Neo is perhaps a smidgen more emphatic in the lower frequencies without sacrificing anything from the highs - not "bloomy" bass, but more notable. The Thiels are well known for the mids and highs to begin with - according to many folks - and that's what put them in my wheelhouse to begin with.
Perhaps the biggest difference I've been enjoying is the simplicity of using it. This is hardly a knock on separates which I may return to at some point, but I don't miss the "mission control" series of procedures one must undertake to listen; conditioner, on! Preamp, on! Turntable preamp, on! Power amp on ! Warm up sequence engaged...enjoy!
The Neo is an excellent amp for the 3.5's and I appreciate it more every day. The remote's volume control could benefit from a more delicate step in increasing or decreasing levels, but it's a small kvetch overshadowed by having a remote so I can relax even more. I'm very into relaxing.
IMHO what the Neo adds to my downsized system what my separates lacked is simplicity without a discernible, or at least a resounding difference in sonics. As I've said, "Thiels reveal!", and what they reveal now is that Simaudio has excellent compatibility.
Enjoy the weekend, folks!
