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HELP ADVICE FEEDBACK PS Audio BHK 300 - Hegel H30 - Pass Labs X250.8 or Pass X350.5 amp

HELP ADVICE - FEEDBACK - PS Audio BHK 300's or Hegel H30 or Pass Labs X250.8 or keep my current Pass Labs X350.5 - Considering amp options

There is a strong PS Audio sale going on right now and a dealer just reached out to me from a conversation we were  having a couple weeks ago when I was looking to change my preamp.

I ended up trading my BAT VK-32SE preamp for Mark Levinson No.326s preamp.

All that said it has me considering doing an amp change also but I must admit I really like my currant amp the Pass Labs X350.5 amp but you know how it is. If I can upgrade then I would like to do just that. 

ANY FEEDBACK - THOUGHTS - IDEAS would be so appreciated.

I am in the middle of total system re-fit and have made many changes - I am sure too many but I am quite happy now but this PS Audio sale has peaked my interest. It has lead me to really considering the Hegel to be honest. That is the direction I am thinking and would love some feedback.  

Can you guys provide any feedback about any of these. I like to hear from you guys. I read all the reviews on all of these are all well and good but I always get the real ho-down low-down from you guys - good or bad.

                                                ** Back Ground info**

** Room is
14 x 24 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 16 Foot a peak

** Music likes:
Assorted Music no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else.

** Likes / Priority:
Transparency - Delicate - Linear - High resolution - microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless - I know there is a fine Line here but I'm looking to walk the line as close as I can - real see through into the music - transparent to the source because I love my DAC - extended and to remove as many layers without being clinical - image and sound stage lover - tight bass - hate flab - like speed and transparency but needs to be musical.

** Perspective
Just traded my BAT VK-32SE brand new tubes / certified pre-owned, mint same as new preamp. Wrong match. Just looking to go total other way. Not what I was looking for. The Mark Levinson No.326s preamp is the newest addition to land on next Wednesday.

** More Perspective - I have been running my Bricasti Direct M1SE to my Pass Labs X350.5 amps and really starting to love it. I want to expand on this sound a bit. Little more depth, width of stage, bass, dynamics but don't want to add veils or give up a lot in transparency - I know I will give up some vs direct in doing so. That was why I was looking for the very best SS preamp I could get in my price range via trade and cash.That was why I landed on the Levinson but we shall see how all the pares out. 

I wanted some feedback on these amps.

I have heard the Hegel and with Magico speakers and loved it. Not in my system but it was the H30 and Magico S5 Speakers and the same Kubula-Sosna Emotion speaker cables and I loved it. Obviously tons of other variables, room, source, IC's PC's but I did get to hear it and absolutely loved it.

Wasn't really even looking at changing my amp and not sure i will but that PS Audo BHK offer peaked my interest so these are the amp options I am considering and would love any and all feedback. 

I get there are a lot of changes and probably too many but it is what it is so please I understand that. 


System:
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5160

Magico S5 Loud Speakers

Bricasti M1 Special Edition DSD DAC

Pass Labs X350.5 Balanced Stereo Amplifier

Mark Levinson No.326s Preamp

PS Audio P10 Power Plant Regenerator

Kubala-Sosna Emotion 2.5M Speaker Cables

Nordost Heimdall 2 Balanced XLR Interconnects 

Assorted premium PC's for clean power

Digital PC based front end that I have been tweaking and evolving:

Transport: microRendu 1.4 and Full Suite of UpTone Audio Premium Power Supplies (2)x LPS-1 and (1) JS2 LPS - (2) Regens - the new ISO and an Amber and all powered with premium/custom Canare / Oyide DC cables for all power supplies plus the great Tellurium Q Black Diamond Reference USB cable and a Curious Regen Link USB Cable.  

Really appreciate any help you can provide on these amps. If you would like more info please let me know - all comments and feedback are most welcome and deeply appreciated :)


Thanks guys/gals

Fsmithjack
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Thanks !!! I remember hearing the H30 and loved it but you know that goes. Different system - room - source - different time - etc. thanks for your feedback. You’ve been super helpful! 
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
The Mark Levinson No.326s preamp is the newest addition to land on next Wednesday.
+1 @hk_fan . I wouldn't do anything until the dust settles on your preamp change.

From what you describe, the only change that may intrigue me is the X350.5 to the X250.8. I say this because the newer .8 series of Pass Labs amps are a bit more resolving and transparent than the older .5 series. Now some folks like that, and some folks prefer the richer, fuller sound of the .5 series.
Since you seem to be looking for more resolution, perhaps the X250.8 is just the ticket.

Again, though, I would wait until after the dust settles with the ML 326S.
ricred1
2,004 posts
 
When I was thinking about replacing my Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amplifier, I had a home audition of the PS Audio BHK 300 mono-amps. To my ears, in my system with the BHK 300s I lost detail, spacing, and the soundstage collapsed. The Rowland just sounds natural and live in comparison to the BHK. That being said, there are no absolutes in Audio, only preferences! You may love it in your system.
jperry
2,448 posts
 
The Nordost Heimdall 2 Balanced XLR Interconnects should be replaced with something higher up the Nordost line assuming you like the Nordost sound in your system. I suggest Tyr 2 or Valhalla 2.

I would not change my amps until my cable were able to properly resolve the differences.
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I wish I could buy those IC’s. The cables I have are fine though for now. I have Siltech - Verestarr - Nordost Valhalla 1, Nordost Quattro Fil, Nordost Buldur, and a bunch of others. The Heimdall 2 are better than the Valhalla 1, thicker, Fuller, richer maybe not a resolved but close and the Verastarr is better than them all but single ended. I believe in Cables and have a lot of money invested in my assorted group but I would need to sell my Pre and amp just to buy those cables. I am targeting Kubala-Sonna Emotion IC’s XLR but I buy my all cables used due to financial reasons such as they are 50% to 60% to 70% off which is substantially less money used and already broken in.

There are a couple nice pairs of Emotions out there but they are single ended and Pass and any fully balanced component really is much better with XLR Cables. If I just sat and waited for a certain cable to show up Used that would be no fun. All that said if a nice pair of Ty2 XLR showed up for a good price I would jump on them. 

Also, if the IC’s are that much of an upgrade then they will upgrade a better amp as well. Rather put my limited funds into gear but I do respect the IC’s just on the look out for a good used pair is all.


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