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Ayre Parasound Pass : where are you?

I’ve been thinking a little bit about three different types of SS amplifier sounds. I’m not really sure what to call them, but I have a definite preference. Here is the spectrum in my mind:

Ayre <--> Parasound <--> Pass 

On the one hand is Ayre and Arcam. Yeah, fight me, but there are big similarities to the sound. I also loved the Pono and what it did for my IEMs, using the Ayre designed output stage. I wish Fiio would license it too.

In the middle is Parasound Halo and ICEpower Class D modules (I’ve owned both) which to me are identical in sound quality. Clearly I’m happy with them for the price!

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Pass. A sound I really don’t like.

But regardless of which you like, what do you think the differences are?

What spectrum do you use to think about solid state amplifiers??
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,430 posts
 
Hi @kw6 - 

They sound "weird." I don't have a better way to describe it. Also honestly a little thin and weak sounding. Which is a real shame because I wanted to like them. Aesthetically they are divine! 

Best,

E
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,111 posts
 
you lost me when in another thread you called Ayre dark........far far far from dark.....
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,098 posts
 
I think of the Ayre sound as very smooth, almost to a fault, and maybe not as dynamically robust as some, but I could see it being easy to live with.
I can only comment on one Pass amp, the X250.5. I owned it for a brief time, and it sounded thin and the opposite of organic or musical. I was very aware of it.
helomech
1,740 posts
 
Parasound amps sound nothing like ICE or Hypex-based amps -- probably because ICE and Hypex (even the hybrids) sound little like a good class A/AB amp. 
erik_squires OP
16,430 posts
 
@helomech : I lived with Parasound Halo A23's (a pair fo them) for months. I built ICEPower ASP 250 based monoblocks. I could not tell them apart under any circumstances. Which is why I sold the Parasounds and kept the high efficiency monoblocks instead. 

@roxy54 - That is my experience as well, even with many speakers, many rooms and many different Pass amps.  Ayre IS very very smooth, and open. 
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