Itch again! what do you think: Pass Labs, McCormack, BAT, or Levinson amp?

Big Red Machine · « **on:** 2 Mar 2008, 01:06 am »

I'm kicking around replacing my Belles amps with a Pass X250.5, McCormack DNA500, BAT tbd, or a Levinson. I'd be looking at 250 wpc+ and no, George, I can't afford the BAT600SE!!

In my future I have LS6's and the future HT3 successor. So driving the 84.5 db HT3's will eventually be a thing of the past. The above amps are all in the same price range used on Agon. And I have not heard any of them.

WHat do you think?

*Scotty* · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 02:17 am »

Big Red Machine,are you planning on waiting until you have the LS6's in the house to acquire a new amp or are you going to get it beforehand?
If the LS6 is a higher resolution replacement for the HT3 you might be advised to wait on your purchase. An amp that is a good match for the HT3
maybe less so with a pair of LS6's.
Scotty

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 02:24 am »

Kicking things around Pete....

Careful....their heavy....you could hurt yourself....

And....I thought you were done....after that nice thank you post you made...but...I know.... things change.

Their all pretty good amps....I've only not heard the Levinson. So....I really like the DNA-500. Great power....full sound....very nice bass....smooth highs and mids.

I didn't check that "thank you" thread (but I will)....so....what preamp will be in use....same or different ?

...Thats right....no preamp....just checked...

ted_b · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 03:20 am »

I love my DNA-500 sound. Chris is spot on with the description. Easily drives my Revelations (although a second one, biamped vertically, would be wild!

)

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 03:28 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 2 Mar 2008, 03:20 am

I love my DNA-500 sound. Chris is spot on with the description. Easily drives my Revelations (although a second one, biamped vertically, would be wild! )

Easy for me to remember Ted....I was at George's....when he had his HT3's and the DNA-500....SRV never sounded so good !!

....I still remember it.

Ted....Two amps would be....wild !!

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 12:51 pm »

My Bel Canto DAC3/preamp is with Rick Cullen and he is attempting to engineer a mod for it. He says pretty much most of the circuit is top notch now that he has looked under the hood and he is thinking about the output stage only right now. He's a cool guy to speak with and I kinda know what he is talking about having been an electronics packaging engineer for years myself.

Probably what I should do, but it ties up my cash, is to bring in another amp and compare it to the Belleses. Then keep the "best" and try another rotation. I'm not too worried about the LS6's because they should be very easy to drive and should be temporary or an "extra" set to play with. I got a great deal on a Bird's Eye Maple pair from AV123 and went for it.

Jim's new HTX will have better efficiency but there really is no timetable for them. So I'll make a decision to keep my HT3's around after I drive the LS6's for a bit. I thought I could at a minimum get some experience with some of these amps to broaden my knowledge about their traits.

Of course right now I am tuneless

And I can't even try the Synergistic cables from Tony yet

zybar · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 12:54 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 2 Mar 2008, 01:06 am

I'm kicking around replacing my Belles amps with a Pass X250.5, McCormack DNA500, BAT tbd, or a Levinson. I'd be looking at 250 wpc+ and no, George, I can't afford the BAT600SE!!

In my future I have LS6's and the future HT3 successor. So driving the 84.5 db HT3's will eventually be a thing of the past. The above amps are all in the same price range used on Agon. And I have not heard any of them.

WHat do you think?

Since you can't go with the big dog (BAT VK600SE), I would go with the DNA-500. For the $3600-4000 it will cost you on Audiogon, I can't think of a better choice to deliver the power you are looking for.

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2008, 02:41 pm »

Pete...

Quote

My Bel Canto DAC3/preamp is with Rick Cullen and he is attempting to engineer a mod for it. He says pretty much most of the circuit is top notch now that he has looked under the hood and he is thinking about the output stage only right now. He's a cool guy to speak with and I kinda know what he is talking about having been an electronics packaging engineer for years myself.

When you modded BC returns, please post how it turns out. I know another member here that is very happy with his....matched with a KR Audio tube amp. Thanks.....

Quote

I thought I could at a minimum get some experience with some of these amps to broaden my knowledge about their traits.

Thats perfect....

Philistine · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Mar 2008, 06:22 pm »

What about the Conrad Johnson 350, never heard it but owners seem to love it.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1206926128

TomS · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Mar 2008, 10:19 pm »

MarkR7 is who I bought my DNA-500 from. He also had the CJ350 and BAT VK500, among others, so he's heard all three of those.

tdangelo · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Mar 2008, 10:26 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 2 Mar 2008, 12:51 pm

Of course right now I am tuneless And I can't even try the Synergistic cables from Tony yet

Pete, you can use the cables without the MPC - the MPC just makes things a little quieter

Tony

tdangelo · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Mar 2008, 10:29 pm »

Pete, I had the Belles 350A Ref. but ended up selling it in favor of the Supratek Burgundy tube amps. I also had the Pass X600.5 monos - I liked them a bit better than the Belles. I didn't really give the Belles a chance though... I went back to tubes quickly - same with the Pass - had them 2-3 weeks. I'm using the Cary 211M AE's monos now and feel they are the best amps I've ever had

TOny

2bigears · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Mar 2008, 10:40 pm »

Tony,holy man land sakes alive man,you are the amp master !!!!! you gotta get away from all those mosquito's so you don't get the itch every 2nd day.i have a DNA 500 and with 600wpc or close to it,she will drive any load into the ground.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 01:38 pm »

I tried to snag a pair of W10 SimAudio mono's but missed them. So I'm going to keep the Belles amps for now.

No one have experience with the 300 series Levinsons? Sure are lots of them for sale which is probably not a good sign.

Other changes going on:

1. The upgrade to my BC DAC3 is postponed as Rick Cullen is still designing the circuit so my stock unit is coming back this week so I can have tunes in the meantime.

2. Purchased 2 Hammond 193M chokes and one 193L choke to try out here someday.

3. Have 2 of the silver IGEO PC's to try out.

4. Still need to try out the Synergistic SC's.

5. Have a new silver PC cable for my SB from Revolution Audio Labs.

Now if I can add these one at a time and be patient....

rydenfan · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 01:52 pm »

My vote would be for the Pass Labs. I recently heard the X600.5 and my oh my is that an amazing amp. The speakers being driven were Aeriel 20T's.

mcullinan · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 02:10 pm »

I heard Bob M's McCormack (an earlier version) and it sounded great. Youve got a list of top contenders and I think you will get a vote for each one. Go listen. Bring your living room.
Mike

BobM · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 02:12 pm »

That was a DNA .5 near Rev-A. Much less power than a 500, and the 500 has everything that Steve can think of as an upgrade already in the stock version (per his notes/website). I have yet to hear a 500, which is probably best because I would probably want to buy one if I did.

Hard to go wrong with that decision. Others have swapped out for other amps, but that may also be a speaker synergy thing at that level.

Enjoy,
Bob

Eric · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 02:32 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 2 Mar 2008, 12:54 pm

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 2 Mar 2008, 01:06 am
I'm kicking around replacing my Belles amps with a Pass X250.5, McCormack DNA500, BAT tbd, or a Levinson. I'd be looking at 250 wpc+ and no, George, I can't afford the BAT600SE!!

In my future I have LS6's and the future HT3 successor. So driving the 84.5 db HT3's will eventually be a thing of the past. The above amps are all in the same price range used on Agon. And I have not heard any of them.

WHat do you think?

Since you can't go with the big dog (BAT VK600SE), I would go with the DNA-500. For the $3600-4000 it will cost you on Audiogon, I can't think of a better choice to deliver the power you are looking for.

George

Does the low impedance of the DNA-500 limit the use of tubed preamps?

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 04:38 pm »

Quote from: rydenfan on 11 Mar 2008, 01:52 pm

My vote would be for the Pass Labs. I recently heard the X600.5 and my oh my is that an amazing amp. The speakers being driven were Aeriel 20T's.

I really want to try one of these (X250 or 350 size) but keep hearing folks on the web refer to them as "tubelike". Not sure what they mean by that. Can't imagine a Class A amp rolling off the highs, etc. Do they mean graceful and pleasing as opposed to "in your face"?

With my Belles amps I have very deep bass, mids with teeth and texture, and all the top end I think I need. I'm always interested in more tightening of the bass and more midrange realism though.

anthony a. · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 04:47 pm »

having owned 3 pass amps in the last 4 years, i can say without a doubt these amps are marvelous. i had the x250, x150.5 and now the x350.5. these are the most transparent and neutral amps out there with a touch of sweetness. the bass slam is ridiculously amazing, i have yet to hear another ss amp that can thump the bass on my speakers like the pass. there is definately no rolled off highs or muddy sound out of these amps whatsoever. its the cleanest signal i have heard from an amp without being tizzy or bright or forward. i think it would be a mistake if you pass on the pass (no pun intended) as the x.5 series are much much better than the older x series adding the slightest bit of sweetness to the signal. the older x series were simply very neutral, with no sound characterisitc being exaggerated. the best words i can use to descibe these amps are power, clean and transparent. frequency extremes are stunning.