[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am in the process of buying an Pass Labs X250 amp to run with my Magnepan 1.6's through a Van Alstine Ultra plus hybrid preamp.  I was curious if any one else is running a Pass amp with their Maggies and how it sounds.  The amp is replacing my Parasound A21 which I will put   up for sale in about 2 weeks.

[kevin360]

Before venturing into valve-land, I had an X350, which first drove my 3.6s and then 3.7s – a wonderful amp. My Maggie dealer had the A21 in his demo room driving his 3.6s. I had just ordered a pair and was considering an A21 because the heftiest amp I had at the time was the X150, which I used with my MMGs. I hauled that X150 to his showroom to hear how it mated with the 3.6s (fully expecting it to be under-powered). Shortly after we got that system fired up, my dealer told me to save my money – he thought the X150 bettered the A21 (which he stood to sell me). I took his advice and saved my money – well, I saved a bit more money and bought a used X350. 

Had it not been for introducing a crossover in the search for better bass integration (which reduced my power requirements), I would still have that X350 (and still be loving it). As far as solid state amps go, Pass Labs is tough to beat. I think you'll be delighted with the combination of the X250 with 1.6s.

[mrlittlejeans]

I had an A21 and an AVA Insight+ 550 that I used to drive some 3.7's.  The AVA did a better job than the A21.

I now have an X350.5 with some 3.6's I had rebuilt and it sounds great.  The Pass is a special piece.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks guys.  I considered buying the AVA 600R or the Vincent SP-331MKII hybrid tube amps. I like a very slightly warmer sound. I think that my  AVA Ultra plus hybrid Preamp and DAC with their warmer vintage 1950's tubes will give that to me.  If not, then I will buy a fully tubed preamp instead of the hybrid that I am using.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I purchased the X250 and it sounds great.  It is in another league compared to the A21.  It has more low end grunt, better transparency, sound stage, spacing, detail and resolution.  The background is completely black. The midrange on the A21 was a little fuller but it has less air and transparency.   The X250 has transformed my system.  Now I am considering a new preamp, either full tube like an AVA Fet Valve or maybe a Pass X1.

[SteveFord]

This is an older thread but is really interesting.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100747.0

I settled on Sonic Frontiers and deHavilland, for what it's worth.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

This is an older thread but is really interesting.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100747.0

I settled on Sonic Frontiers and deHavilland, for what it's worth.

Thanks for the tip, I have my reading cut out for me.  I have been also considering BAT, CJ and a few others.  I like the sound of SS and Tubes.  The BAT preamps have some appeal as they have balanced connections.  I also tend to like a slightly warmer sound.

[66mgb]

I use a Pass Labs X150.5 to drive My 3.6's  I have a Conrad Johnson PV 12 as a preamp. This combination produces a lifelike detailed sound free of any high end harshness. The X150 can drive the maggies to high levels without distortion. I use a REL storm for a sub.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Nice set up.  Thanks for the tip about the CJ

[ajzepp]

66mgb: That is badass!! 

[zuluwarrior0760]

I had an X350.5 with Revel Studio2s along with a CAT SL1 Renaissance Phono.....

I wanted to go to Maggie 3.7s and thought I'd need a bit more juice in my large
room, so I ordered a pair of Bryston 7BSST2's and instantly noted hearing some
things on recordings I had not before with the Pass......could very easily just be
a synergy issue between the Pass and the CAT and/or speakers, but the difference
was not subtle at all.  Three people heard it as well........a few weeks passed
before I sold the Revels and then a couple of months went by (along with a UPS
claim) before the 3.7s landed in my system.  I can't speak to Pass on the maggies, because
the 350.5 had left by then, but FWIW, the Bryston's sound just amazing........

The 3.7s are in my opinion the best buy in the history of Audio.........too many
goosebump moments to count for me.......

I have a friend who just bought an X350 for his 3.7s.  He just got a battery powered
Dodd Preamp that we did a shootout with the other night w/ the CAT and I think
the Dodd is getting it's walking papers LOL

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I had an X350.5 with Revel Studio2s along with a CAT SL1 Renaissance Phono.....

I wanted to go to Maggie 3.7s and thought I'd need a bit more juice in my large
room, so I ordered a pair of Bryston 7BSST2's and instantly noted hearing some
things on recordings I had not before with the Pass......could very easily just be
a synergy issue between the Pass and the CAT and/or speakers, but the difference
was not subtle at all.  Three people heard it as well........a few weeks passed
before I sold the Revels and then a couple of months went by (along with a UPS
claim) before the 3.7s landed in my system.  I can't speak to Pass on the maggies, because
the 350.5 had left by then, but FWIW, the Bryston's sound just amazing........

The 3.7s are in my opinion the best buy in the history of Audio.........too many
goosebump moments to count for me.......

I have a friend who just bought an X350 for his 3.7s.  He just got a battery powered
Dodd Preamp that we did a shootout with the other night w/ the CAT and I think
the Dodd is getting it's walking papers LOL

The Pass 350.5 puts out 700wpc at 4ohms, and that was not enough power to drive the 3.7's?  How big is your room?

[RDavidson]

I can't speak to Pass on the maggies, because the 350.5 had left by then.........

[zuluwarrior0760]

My room is 28' long x 17' wide x 10' tall

I am not saying at all that the Pass "wouldn't" drive the maggies....
but at the dealer I heard the 3.7's at, they were being driven
by Bryston 7's and I was extremely impressed by the sound overall.

Magnepan also indicated that the 7B was a great match for 3.7s

Bryston's James Tanner had also used 7's on his 3.7s and he indicated
that the size of my space would be no issue for the 900 into 4 that
the Bryston provided.........

One of my factors was going to monos since I had a stand and amp platform
setup based upon monos, but when the Bryston's arrived, I still had the Pass
and if the Bryston's gave anything up to the Pass, I would have gladly gone back....
but that was not the case......the 7s obliterated the Pass in my setup and so
I sold the Pass and kept the Bryston's.

The Pass may well have driven the Maggies just fine.  I'll never know