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Quandary

I’m really happy with my system. However when a technician, who is also a salesman, came to my house for a stereo repair he complimented my set but said it would sound a lot better if I switched out my Benchmark AHB2 amp (which I think is great) for a Pass 30 wpc class AB amp. He offered to let me hear that amp in my system so that I could decide for myself (at a fee of $300.) The only problem is he doesn’t  have the 30 watt amp in stock but would have to demo the Pass sound with 60 watt monoblocks. He assured  me that with my very efficient GoldenEar Triton 1 speakers the 30 watt amp will almost have the the same quality.

Do you think I can honestly judge how the smaller amp will actually sound? Or should I cancel the demonstration (and save$300?)

rvpiano
jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,326 posts
 

The OP can buy a pair of Fosi V3 Monos with the 48 volt power supply for $280. They will do 120/240/330wpc@8/4/1ohms. Best bargain in amplification today!

bigkidz
3,413 posts
 

As a manufacturer, I find it hard to think he wants to charge you $300 even if it does go to the purchase price.  Are you buying the amplifier new, used,?  Is he offering the amp at a discount or retail price.

IMO the Pass is a better sounding amplifier that the Benchmark which is about average sounding IMO.  BUT there are better sounding amplifiers than the Pass also.  Not sure about the price point but we offer a pre-production hybrid stereo amp for $6500 100/wpc that we believe is one of the best sounding amplifiers you can hear as a comparison.

Happy Listening.

  

cfa88's avatar
cfa88
111 posts
 

The $300 fee is ridiculous regardless. Doesn’t seem like someone I would want to deal with. In addition, it doesn’t make sense that you demo one model and buy a different model for your system 🤔. This is like you test drive a BMW 7 series and buy a 3 series without driving it. 

cdc
1,862 posts
 

The only problem is he doesn’t have the 30 watt amp in stock but would have to demo the Pass sound with 60 watt monoblocks.

For $300, dealer should at least let you listen to the amp in question.

 

When I had my Triton Ones, I used an Odyssey Stratos amp which at 150wpc and 60 amps of current was a perfect match to the Triton Ones. I moved on to the Triton Refs and now use a 300wpc McIntosh amp which puts me over the moon

Excellent point. Pass will be better but so could a lot of other amps. If you are on the amp upgrade path, are you willing to "settle" for the first one you hear.

If it was me, I would question how the Pass will blend with the Triton's digital bass amps.

kerrybh
237 posts
 

It’s telling that you were satisfied with your system, and he made the suggestion of an audition, not you. My dealer would never charge a fee for me to hear a component that he is trying to sell. Even if you can get by that, you are still not going to know after the audition because it’s not the same component.  You might get some approximation of the pass house sound but the component you’re going to audition will likely sound very different in your system than what he is actually trying to sell you. At a minimum, I would insist that you audition the particular component that is under consideration. 

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