Integrated Amplifiers - Luxman vs Pass Labs

@ddafoe 

So the Bryston 4B3 was leaner than the Pass X250.8?

Is the bass more controlled in the 4B3 or is the X250.8

just fuller? I’m looking for an amp for my Magnepans

which needs an amp with meat on the bones.

Pass or Bryston?…….

I think you guys are talking about bloom… it the opposite of thin… where individual sounds are fully fleshed out, typically midrange bloom is the term used but I have found it can be applied to bass as well.

Low>……………..High

Bryston….Pass…………………….Audio Research

When I moved from a Threshold s500 (Pass)… to a Pass x350 the earlier amp sounded thin. Then I swapped in an Audio Research 160s I was stunned how thin the Pass sounded. It can be relative.

So the Bryston 4B3 was leaner than the Pass X250.8?

Is the bass more controlled in the 4B3 or is the X250.8

In my system driving Spendor D9s which are very easy to drive I found the 4B3 to offer a slightly tighter and faster bass.   I also found the Bryston to be just a tad more forward and resolving compared to the X250.8, and yes a slightly more leaner sound.  I also found the X250.8 to be slightly faster, more resolving, and a tad more lean than the XA30.8 with my speakers.   Compared to the pre NRB 4B I used to own many years ago, I was amazed how smooth and refined the 4B3 is.    I kept the Pass simply because to me it offered a better 3d front to back soundstage compared to the 4B3 or AHB2.   I think the XA30.8 beats the X250.8 by a tad in this category in my system.  I can certainly see other folks liking the sound of the these other two very fine amps more to their liking as well compared to the Pass amps.   

I never once noticed my XA250.8 leaving its 18w class A bias which is why I switched to the XA30.8 :)

I've been tempted to try the Luxman L-590AXII with my speakers but am happy with my separates and prefer the flexibility to match pre and amp.   I really wish Luxman offered the amplifier out of that integrated in a standalone power amp...

Cheers

I bought the 550AII when it first came out and years later in another system a 550AX. I don't think the thought lean ever came to my mind in the 4 or 5 combined years I owned them. Is it possible that this is coming from another part of the system?

Erik_squires I haven't read many of your posts but most of the ones I have seen tend to say in some way that the Pass (in your opinion) is not as (insert descriptor) sounding as the Luxman or Ayre. Can you give some context to the pairing because you say this a lot but it would be helpful to understand why, and with what pairing you had these results. I can relate, as I once bought a pair of speakers that should have been a progression in my mind (and in the opinion of many others) but I found them to be grating and highly irritating over time, despite several room and gear changes.

Me_ohmy I almost purchased a pair of Coherent 12's but just couldn't get anywhere to hear them at the time. I also couldn't get my mind around the driver mods he was making and despite a thumbs up from someone else that owned them, I passed them by. If you wouldn't mind a few words about them on a thread or directly, I'd appreciate it. Frank seems like a great guy with a real passion for speakers. He loves them with with 8 WPC, another thing I couldn't get my head around- but it sounds like maybe you want higher power. I've had several Luxman amps through my house including the class A separates and the 590AII. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. They will give more presence, finesse (while actually providing better control). You wouldn't be giving up anything leaving the 550 for the 590 IMHO.

It does not matter what other people’s opinions are. Your system is not the same as theirs so nothing they say will make a difference. The only thing that matters is how it works in your system. We have a listening room with probably close to 30 different pieces of equipment. Our reference equipment does not always sound the best. We learned that certain things just don’t work together to produce the best sound. Blanket statements like this one sounds that way compared to the other are completely useless. You have to try them in your system period.

Happy Listening