2. amps-preamps
  3. 170131-98013

Recommendation for a highly resolving amp

I have Don Sachs 2 tube preamp driving Pass Labs X350.5 driving Sound Lab M545 ESL speakers. I like the sound very much, but when I went to hear my friend’s Spectral system (driving Quad2912 ESL) I realized my system can benefit from having a higher resolution amp. Spectral amps need all Spectral preamp/cabling, which would be quite expensive. What would you recommend?
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sjsfiveo's avatar
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sjsfiveo
62 posts
 
Are you running your equipment on a dedicated power line? 
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kingbarbuda
514 posts
 
Some highly resolving amps I am personally very familiar with:
Benchmark AHB2
Bryston 28B cubed
First Watt SIT-3 and M-2
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audphile1
5,171 posts
 
This one is super easy to figure out!
If you want to be 100% sure it’s the amp, connect your Lumin directly to the X250.5 using XLR or RCA interconnects and use Lumin volume control.
My money’s on the preamp as a culprit. 
Pass Labs amps and preamps are very transparent and resolving. I used to own Pass X250.5 and I am pretty sure the amplifier isn’t your issue.

Btw what cables are you using?
jaudio1
121 posts
 
I am not sure what your budget so I can’t make a recommendation but I do not think you issue is the amplifier. Your pre-amp has a tubed output stage with 6SN7 tubes. What tubes do you have in there ? They can impact your sound significantly. You might try a Pass Labs pre-amp or other solid state linestage as well.
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curiousjim
4,767 posts
 
Other things to consider,
speaker set up.  How are your speakers setup compared to your friends?  How is your room setup compared to your friends?
Mine are four feet from the back wall and three feet from the side walls. Mine also sound better when raised higher off the floor.
 I know it might be a pain, but try a speaker swap with your friend.

All the best.

JD
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