Bullet bitten and trigger pulled

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Originally Posted by E-Stat

I'm glad you're enjoying the ARC/Pass combo (I thought that an SP-6 paired well with a Stasis 3 when I put them together in '81). Do give both plenty of warmup time for optimum results. And you might consider aftermarket power cords to ice the cake. What they can do is provide that last ounce of subtle detail.

It seems that you've reached a new tier in natural sound reproduction that classical is all about. The Maggies are certainly capable of stepping up to the plate. Now just sit back and enjoy your tunes. :)

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Yes, it really is a new tier of reproduction: thanks, 'Stat.

The ARC LS9 seems to work pretty well with the X150.5, though a few recordings are a bit bright. This is unlike the Class D Audio amp that made the majority of recordings more or less bright. The LS9 stays on all the time; so does my Schiit Audio DAC. The X150.5 I turn off overnight or if won't be listening for a couple of hours since it sucks 200 watts at idle.

I have modest PS Audio shielded PCs on both the ARC and the Pass Labs.

The Magneplanar MG 1.6's are amazing speakers: they are able to exploit any improvement you through at them. I'll be keeping them for quite a while.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

The ARC LS9 seems to work pretty well with the X150.5, though a few recordings are a bit bright. This is unlike the Class D Audio amp that made the majority of recordings more or less bright.

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Exactly. Some, but not all recordings are innately bright.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

The LS9 stays on all the time; so does my Schiit Audio DAC. The X150.5 I turn off overnight or if won't be listening for a couple of hours since it sucks 200 watts at idle.

I have modest PS Audio shielded PCs on both the ARC and the Pass Labs.

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Good on all points.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

The Magneplanar MG 1.6's are amazing speakers: they are able to exploit any improvement you through at them. I'll be keeping them for quite a while.

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I think I mentioned a while back I heard 3.7s driven by about $90k of sources/amplification/cabling at Sea Cliff. They can be as good as what you feed them. :)

I'm glad Feanor your observations are similar to mine in regards to the sound of the Pass. I suspect the A21 may be balanced to the bright side or have an emphasis in that frequency range. I find brass is very good on my Pass, it has that growl you hear in live horns, a friend of mine says it's called "blat", or "splat".

I like the balance I have in my system, it doesn't mask a recording if it has a lot of energy in the high end but on good recordings the highs aren't going to draw your attention any more than the rest of the presentation. I don't find my system slow but it does have a certain warmth or politeness due to the nature of the #512, and using the Pass pre. The Pass pre keeps the system with a nice dark background. I don't think some people are into that but I really like it.

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Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

I'm glad Feanor your observations are similar to mine in regards to the sound of the Pass. I suspect the A21 may be balanced to the bright side or have an emphasis in that frequency range. I find brass is very good on my Pass, it has that growl you hear in live horns, a friend of mine says it's called "blat", or "splat".

I like the balance I have in my system, it doesn't mask a recording if it has a lot of energy in the high end but on good recordings the highs aren't going to draw your attention any more than the rest of the presentation. I don't find my system slow but it does have a certain warmth or politeness due to the nature of the #512, and using the Pass pre. The Pass pre keeps the system with a nice dark background. I don't think some people are into that but I really like it.

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Right-on comment about the "splat" / "blat", Mr P. I was almost startled when I first heard examples of transients listening to the Pass.

The Pass, even more than my earlier amps, has the ability to distinguish the characteristics of the recording, and the sad fact is that the majority of recordings are mediocre or worse.

I find that the Pass opens up compressed recordings and makes them sound better. I love the dark background of the amp as well. I can't wait till I am able to buy a new preamp and DAC that is on par with the Pass.

Mr. P., I like a little darker sound as well. My current tube combo leans a little on the dark and warmer side. The trade off is a little less resolution but the sound is sweet.

Feanor, is your butt sore from all the listening? I was pretty much glued to my sofa the first 2 weeks I had the Pass.

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Originally Posted by blackraven

Feanor, is your butt sore from all the listening? I was pretty much glued to my sofa the first 2 weeks I had the Pass.

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I'm in pain for sure, 'Raven. I've listen 4+ hours yesterday and the day before. I'm likely to do the same today.

I'm am enjoying the remarkable presence and liveliness the X150.5 can convey. But I am continually remind how variable recording quality is; my grandmother used to say, "You can make a silk purse out of a sow's tail". The Pass makes most recordings sound better but it can't make poor recordings sound really good.

From my experience the components that can allow bad recordings to sound good usually do not hold up to better equipment on the better recordings. They usually have a trait that is effecting the presentation that masks the bad recordings bad sound which in turn allows great recordings to not sound as good as components that just allow the music to flow as it should through the stream to the speakers. Just My Opinion

I think that is why I like a system that leans a little to the warmer and darker side. It can slightly tame a bright recording.

I really don't see My Pass making bad recordings sound better or worse, rather they show you what the engineer did in the studio and if he made good decisions as to where the instruments are placed in the stage and how the imaging is and overall balance of the recording. The one thing I do not like is when I listen to a rock recording and the engineer put every instrument on the stage at the right heights and laterally where they should be with the exceptions of the drums. It seems that some engineers want to record the drums with them right up front and separate them through the sound stage so that they appear to be very very wide and detached from one another. For instance on many rock recordings the ride cymbal will be way over on the right speaker while the rest of the kit is center stage and back behind the other performers like it should be. I notice a few eagles songs do this especially with the cymbals.

If any one is interested, there is a Pass X150.5 for sale on Audiogon for $2,750.

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Originally Posted by harley .guy07

I really don't see My Pass making bad recordings sound better or worse, rather they show you what the engineer did in the studio and if he made good decisions as to where the instruments are placed in the stage and how the imaging is and overall balance of the recording. ...

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I suspect that a lot of people choose their equipment, whether they realized it or not, based largely on its ability to gloss over the shortcomings of typical recordings. A major, common shortcoming is excessive brightness.

In terms of classical recording, in addition to brightness, the most common failure is to inadequately capture the sound of stringed instruments, especially violins, and especially "massed violins", i.e. the full violin section of larger orchestras. Methinks that audiophiles go to great lengths to find equipment that masks this particular shortcoming of recordings.

Harley you have a good point about the drums, it's hard to fool yourself you are listening to a live performance when the drummer has 12 foot arms, LOL

Blackraven, I think every one owns Pass already, except for Jack who showed some interest.

My system doesn't make a bad recording sound good but it makes it sound better than I have ever heard it before. If that makes sense, it doesn't hide anything but presents it better. It's personal choice, or, taste, of course, but I think a system that masks a bad recording will also degrade a good one. Now that I look back I think that is what Harley said :)

Well in my experience...I've discovered lots of vinyl and CD's that have been exposed. Some of it...especially vinyl is poorly recorded. You start to find out and start making mental notes of labels that do it repeatedly. There are many labels that call themselves audiophile recordings with 180G pressings that are nothing but junk. I find the best labels to buy are those that come from German, Japan and many others from over seas. There are some good ones on this side of the pond like Reference Recordings and a few more....but some of the American labels have a lot of defects....labels like Analogue Production seems to always have some defects. Good high end gear will not hide the defects and poor recordings in CD's and Vinyl....they will expose them....I think I know what Peabody means when he says it makes a bad recording sound better....it exposes the poor recording in greater light.

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Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

.... but I think a system that masks a bad recording will also degrade a good one.

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I certainly agree with this.

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Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Harley you have a good point about the drums, it's hard to fool yourself you are listening to a live performance when the drummer has 12 foot arms, LOL

Blackraven, I think every one owns Pass already, except for Jack who showed some interest.

My system doesn't make a bad recording sound good but it makes it sound better than I have ever heard it before. If that makes sense, it doesn't hide anything but presents it better. It's personal choice, or, taste, of course, but I think a system that masks a bad recording will also degrade a good one. Now that I look back I think that is what Harley said :)

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Oh I'm still interested. On hold until the master bath is finished. Thankfully most of my poor recordings are on CD and not vinyl. It will be interesting to see what the Pass does with those recordings.

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Originally Posted by Jack in Wilmington

Oh I'm still interested. On hold until the master bath is finished. Thankfully most of my poor recordings are on CD and not vinyl. It will be interesting to see what the Pass does with those recordings.

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Trust me Bro! You will have some on CD as well!