I personally find the Pass amps a bit warm. Again, that's my ear as well as a few I listen with. That's great on so many high end speakers as many are tipped up on top and or forward in the midrange.
The amps are made for the speakers and are a perfect match for what Richards wants them to sound like. If I was in your situation, I'd have to give them a listen. I am saving for a pair if I get them home and love them. I have the Ayre AX5/20 right now and moving to separates adds a lot more to my system in cost and new cables etc..., so I can't just make that move.
I had Ayre build my crossover into the preamp. I know they used the highest of end components (with silver leads not stainless like most use) and I love it. I assume Richard made that crossover to be as seamless as the one's he uses in the 7's or maybe even better, but you'd have to listen in your own system to really know.
I spoke a little while ago with a friend who Is intimately familiar with all the Vandy products and likes the amps better than the reference amps that they are normally shown with. He said that they have even more micro and macro detail than the other electronics he often uses in his systems. I texted about the crossover and he said that may be a reason he loves them, but he says he sits and listens even longer than normal. not sure if that helps or not.
The amps are made for the speakers and are a perfect match for what Richards wants them to sound like. If I was in your situation, I'd have to give them a listen. I am saving for a pair if I get them home and love them. I have the Ayre AX5/20 right now and moving to separates adds a lot more to my system in cost and new cables etc..., so I can't just make that move.
I had Ayre build my crossover into the preamp. I know they used the highest of end components (with silver leads not stainless like most use) and I love it. I assume Richard made that crossover to be as seamless as the one's he uses in the 7's or maybe even better, but you'd have to listen in your own system to really know.
I spoke a little while ago with a friend who Is intimately familiar with all the Vandy products and likes the amps better than the reference amps that they are normally shown with. He said that they have even more micro and macro detail than the other electronics he often uses in his systems. I texted about the crossover and he said that may be a reason he loves them, but he says he sits and listens even longer than normal. not sure if that helps or not.