prof...
I believe that I was running my first pair of 3.5's with a Cayin integrated that put out somewhere around 30 watts in triode believe it or not. As you've found yourself, running a little hotter volume wise really lets this brand sing but, and a big but, I tend to listen at levels that most people would describe as "low", even though I turn it up until it sounds "right."
Slipping in a pair of Goertz alpha core veracity cables did manage to effect a somewhat better definition at my level, but to my ears the 3.6's just aren't providing something that the 3.5's did, and that appears to be a lessening of the highs? Just my ears saying that - if ears could talk.
Since I sold off my second Pass Labs X150.5 it might be unfair to compare the two in hindsight, especially since I found Pass/Thiel to be the best setup I've had. (I should hasten to add that I've three pairs of 3.5's...) The Pass was mated to a BAT VK3i preamp which was also excellent, but I do think that Pass mates equally well, if not better, with an Audio Research pre.
But then again, I've decided that separates drove me to distraction, that I was more concerned with the equipment than I was with the music. The BAT integrated I now own, a VK300xse, has more than enough juice I need for these and any other speakers I may wind up getting - hopefully yet another pair of Thiel.
I believe that I was running my first pair of 3.5's with a Cayin integrated that put out somewhere around 30 watts in triode believe it or not. As you've found yourself, running a little hotter volume wise really lets this brand sing but, and a big but, I tend to listen at levels that most people would describe as "low", even though I turn it up until it sounds "right."
Slipping in a pair of Goertz alpha core veracity cables did manage to effect a somewhat better definition at my level, but to my ears the 3.6's just aren't providing something that the 3.5's did, and that appears to be a lessening of the highs? Just my ears saying that - if ears could talk.
Since I sold off my second Pass Labs X150.5 it might be unfair to compare the two in hindsight, especially since I found Pass/Thiel to be the best setup I've had. (I should hasten to add that I've three pairs of 3.5's...) The Pass was mated to a BAT VK3i preamp which was also excellent, but I do think that Pass mates equally well, if not better, with an Audio Research pre.
But then again, I've decided that separates drove me to distraction, that I was more concerned with the equipment than I was with the music. The BAT integrated I now own, a VK300xse, has more than enough juice I need for these and any other speakers I may wind up getting - hopefully yet another pair of Thiel.