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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?)

128x128rvpiano
cdc
1,753 posts
 

@oldaudiophile 

a listening position without a good amount of empty spade behind it (e.g.  6' or more - the more, the better - a couch or chair right up against a wall or bookcases or something like that would not be a good idea) leads to relatively intense listening fatigue and very quickly.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

cdc
1,753 posts
 

@erik_squires 

There are amps I can recommend unconditionally for all listeners with all systems, and Pass is not one of them.

What amps would those be?

erik_squires
16,011 posts
 

@cdc Luxman, D’Agostino, Vandersteen (yes, they make amps), Parasound, Sanders.

When I say I can recomend them that doesn’t mean they handle all loads, but rather they are at least neutral and tonally will not cause themselves to be noticed. Amps I can’t recommend are those that to my ears are objectionable, or that have a particular type of speaker they sound good with.

Ayre is a brand I really like... but also distinct enough I can't universally recommend.

inna
7,296 posts
 

Audiogon is a destroyer of legal commerce. I knew it.

$300 problem, come on, my monthly electrical bill is higher than that, and it's not even a house.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 

$300 problem, come on, my monthly electrical bill is higher than that, and it's not even a house.

Hey everyone! inna says that $300 is not a lot of money to waste so we should all just agree with him and delete this thread. How could we be so misguided?

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