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

@len44 Wow, what a long strange trip it has been!  

I don’t own any of the gear that was originally posted with this, other than the DEQX Premate.  I did settle on the XP-20 and it did have a little more detail vs. the McIntosh.  But, since then, I sold off the PS Audio amps, and picked up a set of XA60.5’s.  I sold the Dynaudio’s and bought a set of Harbeth Super HL5+’s.  Upgraded the DirectStream Jr to a DirectStream and picked up an Aurender N100H.  I spent about 3 or 4 months A/Bing with and without the XP-20. To me, it sounded better without the XP-20 in the chain.  So, now, I run no preamp, it’s just direct out of the DirectStream into the XA60.5’s.

Been on a steady upgrade path. Currently have a Linn Majik DSM (with amp and volume control turned off, Pass Labs XP-20, Pass Labs XA30.8 feeding into Spendor D9s. Fanatasitc sound...

My combo (BHK Pre-Firstwatt J2) sounds great with jazz and classic rock. However, with modern, more electronic music, a little muffled. I'm thinking a c2700 with a Pass XA.30 or another SS amp of theirs that use balanced connections. I was told the Pass SS amps will be much more snappy and dynamic vs the J2.

I have ZU omen defs and SVS subs.

From reading current and past Pass owners, the Pass amps tend to be very much speaker influene, possibly due to impedance and woofer control.

You should also listen to Ayre and Luxman.

Eric did you ever own a Pass or Ayre?  Every time someone mentions Pass you try to steer them away in reality there are more Pass Labs sold than Ayre and Luxman combined so lots of people got bad ears.