jafant...
Yup - year’s ago I had a Rogue Cronus Magnum and enjoyed it. I think I had a pair of Totem Rainmakers at the time. Used Magnums, depending on the version, fetch around and upwards of $1,200. I also used a Rogue 66 pre for a while - during my monoblock stage methinks.
To be fair I haven’t had the opportunity to fetch a Pass Labs integrated, but my experience with the X150.5 amplifier was simply excellent. The criticisms of Pass Labs being “clinical” or “bright” are shared by many Thiel models.
Bah! What silliness.
I was able to get the Belles 250i for sub $1k. Can’t touch a Pass Labs integrated or power amp for anything close to that. I know. I been a-looking.
I would have a difficult time of it discerning between the Pass and the Belles if I were blindfolded. It’s THAT good. With speakers as articulate as Thiel and Magnepan are, an equally articulate amp like this is an amazing match.
Info on the Belles is at best difficult. A few sources I found on the interwebmabob aren’t that reliable. Methinks it’s rated north of 100 watts @ 8ohms which, at my conservative listening level won’t stress the MMGi’s any - nor for that matter a Thiel 2.3, 2.4, or 3.5. There’s a few tempting sellers out there of each model. Hmmm...
So far as my “amazing” audio purchases have developed over the years, the Belles now tops my list.
And that includes the $1500 Salamander equipment cabinet that I scoffed up for $150 when Stereo Exchange in NYC lost its least a couple of years back.
Yup - year’s ago I had a Rogue Cronus Magnum and enjoyed it. I think I had a pair of Totem Rainmakers at the time. Used Magnums, depending on the version, fetch around and upwards of $1,200. I also used a Rogue 66 pre for a while - during my monoblock stage methinks.
To be fair I haven’t had the opportunity to fetch a Pass Labs integrated, but my experience with the X150.5 amplifier was simply excellent. The criticisms of Pass Labs being “clinical” or “bright” are shared by many Thiel models.
Bah! What silliness.
I was able to get the Belles 250i for sub $1k. Can’t touch a Pass Labs integrated or power amp for anything close to that. I know. I been a-looking.
I would have a difficult time of it discerning between the Pass and the Belles if I were blindfolded. It’s THAT good. With speakers as articulate as Thiel and Magnepan are, an equally articulate amp like this is an amazing match.
Info on the Belles is at best difficult. A few sources I found on the interwebmabob aren’t that reliable. Methinks it’s rated north of 100 watts @ 8ohms which, at my conservative listening level won’t stress the MMGi’s any - nor for that matter a Thiel 2.3, 2.4, or 3.5. There’s a few tempting sellers out there of each model. Hmmm...
So far as my “amazing” audio purchases have developed over the years, the Belles now tops my list.
And that includes the $1500 Salamander equipment cabinet that I scoffed up for $150 when Stereo Exchange in NYC lost its least a couple of years back.