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Sim W-5 vs Pass X250 / X350 with Dyn C-4

Has anyone used a Pass Labs X250 or X350 with the Confidence series of Dynaudio speakers?

I currently have a Simaudio W-5 driving my C4's. On occasion with 2-channel music, where I run the speakers full range, it seems to possibly run just a tad short of punch and I was considering a more powerful amplifier and was looking at the Pass Lab X250 or X350. For movies I have never noticed any shortness of punch, but for movies I run the C-4's crossed over at 40 Hz and the lower end routed to the sub.

I would love to move to the Simaudio W-8 or a pair of W-6, but the cost, even for a used unit, is beyond what I want to pay.

The thing I like is the Simaudio W-5 mates well with my Simaudio Titan that is driving the center speaker (Confidence Center) for movies and I might not get that match with a Pass Labs unit. It also drives the surrounds and rears.

Any thoughts or experience on the mattter would be beneficial to my decision.

Current System:
Preamp/processor - Anthem Statement D2v
CD Player - Arcam CD192
DVD Player - Denon 5900
Preamp/Amp Interconnects - Balanced - Canare
Speaker Wire - Kimber 8TC for fronts
cyclonemike
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,208 posts
 
Based upon my recent 3 day stint with pairing my C4's with Sim W6's, I found the presentation of the W6's to be lean & accentuating the higher frequencies at the expense of midrange frequencies, warmth & decay/micro-dynamics. The Sim sound in my experience was not for me. I've decided to stick with my Plinius SA-102. If I had space in my rack to accommodate the massive Plinius SA-250 Mk IV, that's the direction I would head. I have also heard from a previous owner of C4's that the Pass X250.5 was a synergistic match... but then again, I hear the same things about Dynaudio & Sim Audio. I guess it comes down to personal preference.
gundam91
506 posts
 
My friend has the X350.5 with his C-4. He was using the ML432 prior. Then he heard my X350.5, not even fully broken in at the time, and bought one within a week.

I've only heard Sim Audio at a dealer here in San Francisco. Different setup, different room. But I agree with Pdreher that they sounded dry, edgy, and "solid state".

My friend has been playing with his pair of C4s for at least two years. His biggest complaint is that these are finicky regarding placement, most noticeable with the bass region. So I am not sure if it is due to the speakers or his room. But I do like the sound of his C4s with the X350.5/ARC Ref 3/PH-7/Clearaudio anniversary/Audio Aero CDP.

I had heard the X350 and X350.5 side-by-side at another friend's place before I purchased mine. There is a big difference between the X350 and X350.5. The X.5 series has more of the midrange magic similar to the old Aleph series. The non X.5 series sounded cold and "solid-state" like.

FrankC
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,208 posts
 
FrankC - tell your friend with C4's to add some GIK (or comparable) room treatments to tame the bass and reflections. I was about to give up on my C4's, then added 8 GIK 244 panels to my room and it turned the C4's into keepers. Adding room treatments was the best / most cost effective thing I've done since getting into this addictive hobby. Adding a tubed preamp with NOS tubes also paid nice dividends, but not to the same extent as adding the room treatments.
cyclonemike OP
3 posts
 
I am going to give the X-350 a try. I know that from reviews, etc. that I may be missing the fluidity of the X-350.5 midrange, but for now it is out of the range I want to spend. Maybe if the year goes well and there is a nice bonus at the end, then maybe I can move up....

I am going to wait to sell the W-5 so I can do some comparisons.

Thanks for the input.

Mike
keithr
1,306 posts
 
I've never understood the Sim/Dyn relationship---its just a marketing relationship to these ears.

Pass 250.5 was beautiful with my C1s. BAT ss would also work well.

Dyns don't like bipolar amps in my view, although i would like to try Krell on them and think that is the only one that could work.
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