Personal amp evolution

Starting in early high school 29 years ago and I still have the sickness.

- HH Scott tube receiver
- Techniques receiver
- B&K ST 140
- B&K ST 202 Plus (still own it)
- Arragon 8008 (borrowed long term from a friend)
- Bryston 4B ST
- H2O Audio S250 Signature (still own it)
- Pass Labs X250.5 (still own it)

Out of the bunch of amps above, the Pass X250.5 stands out above the rest.

Preamp evolution
- Belles something-or-other (my dad now has it)
- Self designed passive unit (since trashed for parts)
- Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (loved it but it wont drive low impedance loads)
- Adcom GFP 750 (borrowed long term from a buddy)
- Self built Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid (still own it)
- Audio Research Corp LS-26
- H2O Audio Fire (still own it, love it)
- Pass Labs XP-10 (will receive it soon, can't say anything about it yet)

Alan

Hi Alan,

While I respect your choice, I wonder if you ever soldered Sonicap Platinum bypass caps on your H2O amps? Have you auditioned any NOS CDP? Those two changes, and the copper ribbon speaker cables transformed my H2O sound from rather SS like, to profoundly transparent and musical.

I use to own Pass Labs amps, the X150, and X600. Most recently I heard the X600.5 and XA100 monos. Both amps have certainly been improved over the ones they replaced.

Still, I would not consider trading the H2O for any Pass amp. The difference is not small. either. I am talking about my system. I mentioned a couple winning improvements I made.

I bet the Fire really helped the Pass amp. I also tried the Pass XP10. It was pretty darn good, but I was happy to keep my Fire.

Hi Vince,

My S250 does have the Sonicap bypass caps and the latest modules. And yes, I did buy an NOS DAC or two, and really find them extremely musical (MHDT Labs Havana, recently replaced by a Wavelength Cosecant V3).

I don't think the Pass amplifier was designed to run extremely low impedance loads like your Apogees, so it would not be an ideal fit. I think the H2O S250 has about the most well controlled bass I've ever heard from any amp in my system. Still, my speakers are not nearly as difficult to drive as yours, and in my system the Pass X250.5 has more life and presence in the midrange / lower treble, and a more expansive sound stage than the H20 amplifier. I still enjoy the H20 amp in my bedroom system, but I think the strengths of the H2O amp probably shine with more difficult loads.

The Fire is, without a doubt, the finest preamplifier I've had in my system. It mates beautifully with the Pass X250.5 (except for the problem of too much overall gain). I have compared it extensively with some very good preamps from Cary, Audio Research Corp, and BAT. While I probably could have lived happily ever after with the Cary, the Fire is less colored, reaches deeper in the low bass regions, and throws such beautiful midrange and high frequencies that its hard to believe its a solid state preamp. It is the most transparent yet engaging preamp I have come across. As I write this, I am listening to a recording that I have always loved for its composition and melody, but has traditionally been a little harsh through even some very pricey preamps. It sounds great through the Fire.

I still haven't received the Pass preamp yet, so I can't comment on a comparison. It should be coming tomorrow evening. I would think the Pass preamp will have the advantage of being the latest of a design specifically mated to the same company's latest series of amps. However, the Fire seems to offer so much more for the same amount of money. I would be kind of surprised if the Pass can stand up to the Fire's power supply and regulation. Still, I wouldn't have to be making this comparison if Henry could do something about the overall gain of the Fire. I won't trade sound quality for convenience, but I'll see in a couple of days.

Alan

A complete update of my amps so far - just switched from 2A3 SET to Shindo PP amp:

1988-93 Pioneer A-656 MKII (ALR Nummer 3 stand speakers)
1993-97 Harman Kardon HK1400 (ALR Nummer 3 stand speakers)
1998-03 Rega Mira (Original) (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2003-04 Linn Classic (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2004-04 Linn Wakonda/LK85 (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2004-05 Jolida JD302B (Mission 751, Spendor S3/5, Omega Super 3)
2004-04 Audio Aero Prima (very nice, but returned due to problems)
2004-04 Unison Unico (awful sound, sold after 3 months)
2005-06 Sonic Impact T-amp (Cain Abby)
2005-06 Fi Y pre and First Watt F1 (Cain Abby)
2005-09 Fi Y pre and Super X 2A3 amp (Cain Abby)
2005 Bottlehead S.E.X amp (Cain Abby, now headphone amp)
2009 Shindo Monbrison preamp and Montille 6v6 tube amp (Cain Abby)

The amps I have kept the longest so far are the Harman, Rega, and Fi amps, each about 4-5 years.

Aljordan,
I would be very interested to read your impressions of the H20 Fire and the Pass XP-10 in your system with the Pass amp. Thanks.
Peter