Choosing a Solid State Class A/B integrated amp

Unsound, Charles1dad:

I own the Pass INT-30 (marketed as as class A, compared to the AB INT-150). It is a very smooth and natural sounding amp.

But if David12 is looking for significantly more grunt than his current 20 and 50 wpc channel specimens provide, as his post suggests, I doubt it is the amp for him.

Last night I compared the Pass to the 200 wpc BMC C-1 on the 90db (and excellent) Vapor Joule. Ryan and I (the Vapor owner/designer) both thought the BMC had considerably more punch and energy on the attack with those speakers.

Again, the INT-30A is lovely, but I continue to think a more powerful solid state specimen -- such as the Modwright stuff Daedalus tends to show with -- might make a more gratifying contrast with David's current amplification.

Best,

John

****Tube amps can be fast? That's a new one for me. I clearly have a lot to learn. Can someone please elaborate on the op's statement?****

Of course they can be; it's surprising to me that anyone would think that tube amps, as a group, can not be. If fact, while I am not prepared to say that I think that tube amps, as a group, are faster than ss amps, I can say that I have heard more ss amps that sound lifeless than tube amps that do. While many ss amps may seem to be "faster" than many tube amps due to the fact that tube amps tend to sound rounder, more dimensional, and less "lean", they give the impression of speed. However, IMO, a good tube amp tends to be more dynamically sophisticated, and subtle. What gives music a sense of aliveness is HOW the music gets from point A to point B on the dynamics scale. Is it done seamlessly? IOW, can you hear every subtle incremental increase (or decrease) in volume from point A to point B? IMO, tubes, as a group, do a superior job of that. But part of the equation is the music being listened to. Classical music tends to have more dynamic subtlety than most commercial music. Anyone who doubts that need only compare the softest moment in a well recorded classical symphony to the loudest, and consider that there is a practically endless number of dynamic gradations in between that are an essential part of the music. Most electric music has a much narrower dynamic range with fewer dynamic gradations. If one listens primarily to rock music, it is much easier to not notice this dynamic compression.

Jdoris, I was responding to your original post in this thread, which I think echoes Pass's rather confusing power ratings. I'd hazard a guess that the Class AB output is about 5 X it's class A output rating. Sure a bigger amp will accomplish more of the OP objective, but IMHO your post suggesting that the INT-30a only allows for 30 Watts might be bit misleading.

Frogman,
Well said.
I primarily listen to jazz, both large and smaller scale.
Most of those CDs will have volume swings(spl meter)of 25 to 30 db, there`s much ebb and flow.

It`s rare to find pop and rock recordings anywhere close to this sort of range of swinging db levels. By the way my SET amplifier frequently provides 'startle momments' a sign of dynamic agility, speed and transients.

Jdoris, for the 88db 2-3 ohm speaker(stand mount) David12 mentioned,the 200 watt BMC would likely be the better amp. The Daedalus( floorstander higher sensitivity model) however sounded better with tubes than the Modwright when I heard them last year IMO.
Regards,

It`s rare to find pop and rock recordings anywhere close to this sort of range of swinging db levels.

Rare, but not impossible. Among older pop CDs you will find some with excellent dynamic range. Try Suzanne Vega's self-titled CD 5072, made in Japan for the US market in 1985 or so.

From recent releases, Carly Simon's "No Secrets" CD remastered on Audio Fidelity is fantastic.

Both of these are a good test of your system, and great music.

Regards,