Pass INT-25, split decision and maybe option?

To @audiojan its not that we believe your INT-25 could not work, but we all have been in a situation where the sound was too much in one way or another and lacking in other areas compared to our "last" system setup, for example. Then we find ourselves fine tuning in other areas upstream, like changing DACs or (sure enough) trying different cables again etc. It’s kind of a balancing act to get there.

I had a pair of these popular [other brand] OCC cables once that were so open, transparent, huge sound stage, and simply were not as engaging, and for my taste they were a bad match for one of my amplifier setups. Went back to simple pure copper ICs and speaker cables I had before. All the sudden things settled down, quite a bit actually. The midrange music was back again. Two other buddies had the same cables, same issue, all of us resold them. It happens some times with different setups. Some cables I've tried can cause situations like this too, fwiw.  

A few last thoughts, free to try fwiw:

• Warmup: As a quick test, can you leave your INT-25 powered on for 48hrs, particularly so if it’s been sitting cold in a box somewhere and before you received it? No joke, I had recently rotated my older Pass/Forte’ amp back in recently and it had been out of rotation for six (6) months. First try was not smooth, grainy, too etched. Left it on for a few days, went back and listed again, and a very nice change on the first startup back into the system. Better every time since. That’s one things to try.
• Toe-in: Are your PAPs toed in quite a bit now? Can you try to toe them back out almost straight forward for a bit, listen for a while, see how it goes, then slightly toe-in again if needed at all, or none.
• Cables: do you have a local shop you can borrow any other less open/airy ICs going between your main device/DAC etc to your INT-25?

Best of luck, just a few thoughts before you jump ship to a tube integrated. This whole thread has me thinking too what my next consolidation move might be btw.

To @audiojan did you happen to notice the other cable thread and questions going on right now, one member posted something similar about your same SilverSmith Fidelium cables?

I’d recommend you message this member [@sls883] and ask more and why they changed to something else, our what changed since.  Maybe worth checking into this more potentially, look here:

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2766914

While I have almost no experience with PrimaLuna, they have at least 4 different, all tube integrated amplifiers you can check out.  With tube rolling, you could customize the sound to one that makes you happy.

All the best.

Have you considered the Sugden A21 SE? Less expensive than the Pass, but some reviewers prefer it to the INT-25; slightly larger soundstage. I think you'll find a slightly warmer sound, as well. Voices are lovely.

I'm pretty set on keeping my Silversmith Fidelium cables. Of all the cables I've tried over the years (and they're quite a few and almost all more expensive than the Silversmith's), these the most neutral, detailed, yet smooth cables I've tried.

Same goes for the digital front end. Replacing the PS Audio DirectStream Sr (with multiple modifications) would cost way more than replacing the amp.

Also, I'm not going back to separates again. I've had some many over the years and the simplicity of an integrated is getting more appealing the older I get.

So I'm either going to stay with the INT-25 (and there's a lot that I love about it!) or I'm going to a tube integrated (and there's a lot I love about tubes).

I do appreciate all the input and options offered up.