More watts or better power ?


Hello, I am currently running a PS Audio BHK Preamp, which has a tube input stage, to a Pass Labs XA25, Class A (50watts at 4 ohms) power Amp, into a pair of Sonus Faber Minima Amator II bookshelf speakers. My system sounds very good, and at 4ohms, I have 50 watts of power to my speakers, which is on the lower end of their rating.

What would be a better investment (most bang for the buck) into the system? Replace the XA25 with a higher watt amp (PS Audio BHK 250?), or spend the same money on a power conditioner (PS Audio Power Plant II?) Or upgrade the Minima Amator (which are sounding very good) to another set of speakers.

The system is in my bedroom, I have a very small house, hence the smaller Sonus Faber Speakers. I have beenplaying around with an SVS micro sub as well.

Other system parts, Clear Audio Concept/ Concept MC, Pass Labs XP15, Little Green Roon Server, Schitt Yiggi, and a Luxman MQ 88 Tube amp in rotation.

Appreciate your input
Mark O





128x128marktheshark
It sounds like you have the itch to upgrade not because you need to but you kind of want to. With that, it is more pressure testing each component and finding the weakest link in the chain.  You have a great system that is better than many so you can stand pat.  

And incidentally, what is the old saying about opinions?

To me, lack of a conditioner is first.  I legit think that will help reduce your noise floor and expand your soundstage.  Doesn't need to be crazy expensive to get the big benefit.   A Panamax or Furman will get you there while some of the higher end units will deliver incremental benefit.  I would spend less than $2K if I were you.  And incidentally, just because your amp won't benefit from a conditioner, doesn't mean your other components won't.  DACs and phono stages may not be high current, but the circuits are delicate and small variations can impact sound.  

Second, your DAC is very good for the money but, improvement can be had.  I think stepping up to a better DAC will give you a leap forward in terms of resolution and image.  I have a few customers who have that DAC and side-by-side comparisons with others have delivered surprising results.  

Third, cables are worth considering.  They can be borrowed for a test. ICs, power cables and speaker cables can make a difference.  Which has the biggest impact will vary from system to system.  In my main system, I upgraded from a modest pair of Kimber Kable speaker cables to Audioquest Robin Hood and it was like I got a new component.  It was huge.  In my other system, the same exchange made basically no difference.  The swap from Kimber Tonik to Audioquest Water was big.  Switch from Water to Fire was minimal.  You get my point. 

I have heard some extraordinary changes because of cables.  Both good and bad.  I get a lot of cable trades and some very expensive cables have had shockingly bad impacts on my system and some modest priced cables have been surprisingly good.  Borrow some and see if you like it.  Keep an open mind in both directions.  Expensive does not mean better.  

Your preamp, amp and your speakers are all very good.  I can recommend better but I am not sure you will get a big gain without spending, and I don't mean the $3-4K it would take to trade up to a PS Audio BHK 250.  Simply adding power can help with many speakers, but I am thinking that is not the case with those speakers.  I would focus on quality and PS Audio, Pass and Sonus Faber are very high quality. 

Incidentally, no, I don't think your system is mid-fi.   If you want to spend $10K+ for any of those components, yes, you will see some gains.  There may be some diamonds to be found a lower prices but not obvious ones that are better to me.  

Hope this helps and good luck
If I read your OP correctly your sole reason for asking is that the rated amp power is at the low end of the recommended range for your speakers.  Sorry…forget that and just enjoy the music.  You have an excellent system, well chosen to provide a quality listening experience in your small bedroom.  And yes, if you have to tinker, get some high quality jacketed CL rated speaker wire.  Transparent HP122 or similar.  You’ll have to crimp and solder terminals after you pull it through the basement though.
I would think a larger size amp would be like buying a new car and opting for the model with greater HP.  A larger size amp would work les hard and I wonder if this in turn would produce better sound.  I have always thought the larger the amp the better.  However, it would have to have the type of sound you are trying to obtain.

Not sure if you have a pair of subwoofers.  When I added my REL S2 subs, I was able to reproduce more bass at lower listening volumes.
There’s been lots written but here are my two adds: one more factual guidance, the other my opinion based on hearing various Sonus Fabers.

1. re: power vs quality - more power is only beneficial if you are exceeding the VOLTAGE limit of the amp. The Pass labs stuff can deliver plenty of current for its modest voltage (about 14 volts rms) under normal dynamic conditions (where one uses on average ~ 10-% of rated power due to music’s peak: average ratio) . If you are beginning to clip - get more power. Else. move on IMO. Note my answer assumes that money is limited and you can only spend your budget once: so money spent on an amp, for instance, is not spent on speakers.  Hint: i think you ought to look at speakers - whether i be subwoofers or a thoroughly different speaker. Yet that may not match your personal likes.

2. re: the speakers - it would be helpful to know the problem you are trying to solve. They will never have much bass - the laws of [physics are not on thier side, yet many speakers that solve that problem violate the laws of decorating. Only you know.

That said, when i have heard the Sonus Fabers they always sound somewhat bright and harsh from the upper mids up. This is, IMO, common in many components that seek "detail". It does not sound like music to me. Don;t get me wrong, they are very good speakers, but IMO nowhere near the quality of your preamp and amp (having only heard *ABOUT* the BHK, but knowing Nelson’s stuff).

Yet that may no be your objective at all. Step #1 if finding a solution is knowing the problem!

G