Pass Labs “House Sound” vs. McIntosh “House Sound”

As @ebm pointed out they both has different ‘house’ sound. If you’re looking for a departure from tubes, XP-20 is a great choice. I would also consider audiotioning BHK Signature Preamplifier. 

One word of caution, I wouldn’t get rid of C-2500 until you had a chance to audition either of these solid state preamplifiers. I used to own C-2500 with Telefunken NOS tubes and couldn’t make a switch to SS preamp. I end up swapping my C-2500 for ARC LS28. 

BTW, very nice system and good luck with your search!

I myself have the C2500 preamp and after having 4 other tubed preamps, this one is definitely the keeper.  I have never heard a solid state preamp that I could live with for a long period of time.  Are you willing to give up the tone controls and the ability to change phono cartridge loading on the fly from the remote?  I know I couldn't and wouldn't.  I don't know how it will sound with a Pass.  Although this isn't the same thing, I tried the C2500 with a Conrad Johnson 250wpc solid state amp, the sound became slow and syrupy.  What is it about the sound of the C2500 that you don't like or wish to improve?

Why not just use the DEQX as the pre and do without another component in the chain?

All, thank you for the comments.

@stereo5 That question cuts deep!  I do like the C2500, 85% of the time.  On most of the music I listen to, it is a pretty full sound, so to speak.  I often wondered if I was missing out on some lower end energy and details in other ranges.

I do have a REL sub, which is blended quite well into the overall presentation/soundstage, but I often think I’m missing some 200hz and below or it’s getting sucked out of the source material.  I’ve sent the room response curves off to GIK, which they provided room analysis on a different room and recommendations for treatment.  I used the same panels, in the same locations.  GIK didn’t identify anything that could be treated, as the room responded ideally to the current panel setup.  

I’ve made adjustments to the DEQX, with a little bit of success.  In all, actually, there’s nothing wrong with the C2500 and I have nothing but positives to share regarding it.  If anything, it’s me tricking myself into believing I’m missing something.  That, and like many in this industry as a hobbyist, we like to fiddle, tinker and experience our music in new ways.  

From a listening perspective, I’ve always gravitated towards less colorization, give it to me as it was recorded.  I prefer to hear all the details.  

@unsound
 I did pull the C2500 out of the chain, along with my Direct Stream Jr.  The DEQX DAC, not bad at all, but it’s a little too digital sounding, to my ears.  I also believe I failed to mention I use the DSJ as my DAC.  I also got out of the vinyl game about a year ago, so I have no requirement for a phono stage.

I do have a REL sub, which is blended quite well into the overall presentation/soundstage, but I often think I’m missing some 200hz and below or it’s getting sucked out of the source material.

Hi Todd,

If I understand correctly the chain you are using is:

Digital Source >> DEQX >> DSJ >> C2500 >> BHK300 monoblocks >> Speakers

Is that correct? 

Also, I'm wondering where and how the REL R-528SE sub is connected.  Specifically, if you are connecting it at speaker level what is the black wire in the Speakon cable connected to, which can be an issue given both that the amps are monoblocks and I believe also have differentially balanced outputs?  And if you are connecting the sub at line-level, given that the sub only provides a line-level input for one channel how are the two channels being summed together?

Also, regarding the experiment you conducted with the C2500 and the DSJ removed from the chain, findings that were reported to me privately by one of the other members who participated in the "Is DEQX A Game-Changer" thread, who like you used a Premate, suggest to me the possibility that the Premate's unbalanced analog outputs **might** be sonically superior to its balanced analog outputs.  So assuming (as appears likely) that your experiment was conducted using the Premate's balanced outputs it might be worthwhile repeating it using the unbalanced outputs. 

Best regards,
-- Al