[TomS]

So Tom, what do you think?

I think you already have great amps and are looking at awesome choices 

I haven't heard all the amps you're talking about at any great length so can't really help much.  I owned the DNA-500 for quite awhile and it is a terrific amp.  I'd recommend it to anyone unconditionally and really wish I still had mine (can't keep them all).  One of the first high end amps I owned was dual Electrocompaniet Ampliwire's (vertical passive biamped to Vandersteens), along with their preamp.  They were a great experience for several years.  The caveat is they can be REALLY hard to move if you decide to, as most buyers don't know much about them.  Doesn't diminish their goodness at all though.

I currently have a DIY Pass Labs First Watt F4 and have to say it's really making me want to go looking for one of the x.5 series for a bass amp.  His designs and construction are very robust and he's certainly in business for the long haul.  Unfortunately, I still haven't heard one of those recently other than RMAF a few times.  I'd really like to have a 250.5 or 350.5 for a bass amp but that's a lot of coin, even used.  The XA60 or XA100, of course, would be even better, within their power limits, but the $$$ are even more off the charts than the x.5's 

Tom

[Big Red Machine]

Well the guy I "purchased" the Nemos from had a car accident and refunded my money as he cannot deal with toting them to Fedex.  So it looks like I will go for a Pass unit.  With my GTG coming up Saturday I'm in a bit of a pinch.

[TomS]

Well the guy I "purchased" the Nemos from had a car accident and refunded my money as he cannot deal with toting them to Fedex.  So it looks like I will go for a Pass unit.  With my GTG coming up Saturday I'm in a bit of a pinch.

Maybe wasn't meant to happen after all.  There were a couple of 250.5's on a'gon today.

[zybar]

Pete,

I can't believe I am going to say this...but what about the NuForce Ref 9 V2 SE mono blocks?

I know a few people who have historically been tube guys and they are speaking very highly of them. 

I think NuForce is still running some kind of special where you can audition them for a weekend for $1.

If you do go with Pass, a 250.5 is supposed to be quite a sweet amp.  Looks like it will run you around $3700.

George

[rydenfan]

I know you were looking for more power with the EC's; I would go with the 350.5. This one is beautiful:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210181914

Or, if it is in the budget the X600.5 Monoblocks

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1209161037

[Big Red Machine]

I'm looking at all of those right now guys.  What about these Innersounds: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210253078

[rydenfan]

If it were my money, which is obviously is not, I would go Pass Labs.

[ecramer]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210181914

These will cure any itch you could possibly have   

[s_cervin]

I'm looking at all of those right now guys.  What about these Innersounds: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210253078

Better get something new....don't want to hear the same system as last time you had everyone over    Looking forward to the 29th! 

Can't go wrong with the Pass Labs.

SC

[rydenfan]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210181914

These will cure any itch you could possibly have   

that is the same amp I showed him as well. I guess that makes two votes.

[Big Red Machine]

I'm looking at all of those right now guys.  What about these Innersounds: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210253078

Better get something new....don't want to hear the same system as last time you had everyone over    Looking forward to the 29th! 

Can't go wrong with the Pass Labs.

SC

There's nothing to hear right now.  I got no amps man!!!

[TomS]

I'm looking at all of those right now guys.  What about these Innersounds: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210253078

Better get something new....don't want to hear the same system as last time you had everyone over    Looking forward to the 29th! 

Can't go wrong with the Pass Labs.

SC

There's nothing to hear right now.  I got no amps man!!!

....oh, the humanity of it!

[zybar]

There's nothing to hear right now.  I got no amps man!!!

And I have too many...

How about you buy my pair of Odyssey Mono Extreme SE's?  I bet they would work real well with the HT3's or one of your future speaker choices.

George

[yooper]

Pete... you know I can vouch for the Odyssey Mono SE's as I have them and love them.  Different stroked for different folks though.

I'm thinking back a bit, and remember you mentioning something to the effect of trying to obtain top performance while spending less money, and seeing where the law of diminishing returns quickly enters the equation.     Why not give it a go?

I do understand it's hard not wanting more, as one can become truly "addicted" to the hobby.

Good luck with your quest, and happy hunting 

Mark

[Big Red Machine]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210181914

These will cure any itch you could possibly have   

that is the same amp I showed him as well. I guess that makes two votes.

Can't get the guy to respond.  I hate to "settle" for a 250 watter!

[Imperial]

Ok, you did not get the nemos then. Wow, bad luck! 
But man, have patience! Don't just buy the next and best amp just because you wanna have music right now!
Take your time, and don't rush into things.
As you yourself has stated, rush is also music, but best played on a system you have chosen with care..
Patience man! I know, it is really difficult, but it can be done! 

Imperial

[zybar]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210181914

These will cure any itch you could possibly have   

that is the same amp I showed him as well. I guess that makes two votes.

Can't get the guy to respond.  I hate to "settle" for a 250 watter!

Pete,

I really don't think you are going to hear any major differences between 250 and 350 watts.

From looking at the Pass website, the only major differences between the two amps is the power and that the 350.5 stays in Class A longer than the 250.5 (40 vs. 15 watts).  Staying longer in Class A mode could potentially make the 350.5 sound better.  Of course on the negative side, the 350.5 will use a lot more electricity (twice as much according to the Pass website).

Think about it...the 250.5 is smaller, will use less electricity, costs less, and probably sounds pretty damn close or equal to the 350.5 - why wouldn't you go this route???

BTW, here is the link to the Pass website which compares specs on the various models:  http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/product%20lit/x.5-xa.5-amps.pdf

George

[Big Red Machine]

It's also a very emotional thing for me.  I want shock and awe.  Full tilt, never look back, unadulterated power!

I was also looking at:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1208245236

and:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1211418682

and:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210779633

and:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1211118522

and:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1210971308

[zybar]

Pete,

If you don't want to look back, bite the bullet and buy a used BAT VK-600SE already!!  aa

My buddy is selling his BAT VK-600SE because he felt that the $20k Theta Citadel 1.5 mono blocks offered an improvement.

Out of the amps you just listed above, the best value and my personal favorite is the McCormack DNA-500.  I know from first hand experience how good the DNA-500 sounds with the HT3's as this was my amp/speaker combo for well over a year.

Not only is it a very good amp, you can always have it modified by Steve McCormack to take it to an even higher level down the road.

Best of luck.

George

[Big Red Machine]

So George, is that his amp on Agon?  I thought that thing was 600 wpc.  Looks like it is 300 wpc?  I think BAT's website is useless.