Transistors Are Better Because...

[Gordon Gray]

Nelson Pass is definitely one of my heros. Used to own some Threshold back in the old days and really liked his First Watt amps. The current Pass stuff is decent, just not at the top of the list of what I'd consider a SS amp that has the magic of tubes without having tubes under the hood. It's still an amp that sounds distinctively solid state to me.

I loved my first watt F4 though. That was one of the best sounding amps I've ever heard, period. Used to have an Aleph too. That was a sweetie as well.

Which current models have you heard in your system?

GG

 

[tonepub]

Which current models have you heard in your system?

GG

Mostly the A/B amps. I prefer the all class-a amps myself...

As someone here mentioned, I'm fortunate enough to get the absolute best and (often time crazy expensive) stuff to listen to and have even bought my fair share of it.

It's kind of like any other addictive substance, the more you get, the more you need to catch a buzz next time.

The Pass amps are very good products, it's just that after hearing some of the "money no object" stuff, that's where I'm at right now. When I talked to Nelson about building a 300 watt per channel F4, he laughed and said, "When I scale it up, the magic goes away".

I used to think Harry Pearson was insane 15 years ago, reading about some of the things he used to get for his listening room at Seacliff, but now I understand.

As always though, our goal is to try and be realistic and keep perspective, knowing our readers have systems worth anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a million dollars.

But if I can get my hands on those 160.5, I might change my mind....
I want to hear one of Nelson's big power class a amps. I had the chance to hear a Threshold 400A a few months ago and it's still one of the nicest amps I've ever heard.

 

[Logan Earth Ski]

Tubes Rule... but the closest thing to a perfect class A amp I have ever seen is a Kaijo 1Mhz 900W megasonic generator for acoustic coupling of high tech sub-micron cleaning applications

24 phase lock loop zippies, all can cased like something from a 1963 lunar lander... perfectly matched and making sine wave magic...

Id hate to see a tube that could do that... you would need hoover dam to power it

 

[Gordon Gray]

Jeff,

Which A/B models?

What system?

Yours?

The 0.5 series?

Of course, we all would prefer the pure Class A models.

Duh!

GG

 

[tonepub]

Jeff, Which A/B models?
What system? Yours?

The 0.5 series?

Of course, we all would prefer the pure Class A models.

Duh!

GG

I've pretty much heard all the current A/B models in my current system at one time or another over the last two years.

Again, this argument I believe was about whether tubes or transistors are better. While I love tubes, I'm just as happy if not happier with the top end of Solid State. I enjoyed my CJ Premier 350 for quite a few years and still consider it one of the most musical, dynamic and neutral amps I've ever heard. I like my current Burmester 911mk. 3 better in terms of inner detail, resolution and lack of grain, however it is not as powerful as the Premier 350 was.

But I have heard the CLX's with a pair of 911's and that's the ticket!

Again, your choices could be different, but that's my favorite, without any of the compromises tubes demand.

 

[Gordon Gray]

Jeff,

Thanks for the input.

What I'm curious about is if there's any identifiable sonic differences between the 250.5, the 350.5, and the 600.5 assuming all are running in the Class A mode only.

GG

 

[Feltran]

What I'm curious about is if there's any identifiable sonic differences between the 250.5, the 350.5, and the 650.5 assuming all are running in the Class A mode only.

I don't remember who, but there was a member of this community that said he tried both the 250.5 and the 350.5 in the same system and preferred the 250.5. I don't think he elaborated on why, though.