Taking the Hi End Plunge?

[Feanor]

Take the plunge if you can do so without depriving your family or creating discord, or getting into debt. These qualifications are easy to express, harder to judge.

For one thing, the Pass Lab amps are the only ones I would trust to deliver the best, least compromised sound regardless of cost -- not that they're cheap. For another, the Magneplanar MG 1.6QR's have proven to me that they can exploit the best electronics you can attach to them.

Right now I'm looking at low cost, (new or used), amplifiers and trying to get a feel for which will deliver for me the most agreeable set of compromises. This is a weary task since anything I can afford has this, that, or multiple compromises.

But beware that there is not "end of the trail" in audio. If you find an amp that will satisfy you for a few years, then you will feel the urge to find the idea speaker or whatever else in the reproduction chain.

[blackraven]

I am with you Feanor, the 1.6's will sound as good as your gear. I found that out with the Van Alstine 600R, I was astounded at how good Maggies sounded with the 600R. As for the future, I could see myself upgrading to a fully tube preamp and a more up to date DAC perhaps. As for speakers, I would love to find a nice used pair of 3.6's but I would consider a pair of PSB Synchrony's if I down size my house in 7-10 years.

Any one want a good deal on a used Parasound A21?

[frenchmon]

Raven. I too like the Pass Labs a lot, but to a guy who loves tubes and know what a tube brings to the table you will notice it. But again, you had the Parasound which is not to far off from what the Pass amps do. Remember Pass and Curl shared designs years ago... And please don't sell your self short with the Vincent. I too have heard your amps a few years ago at my dealers house before I purchased my Vincent tube preamp. I don't ever remember the Parasound sounding like what I have now. Its totally differnet in what they bring to the table. also to my ears the AVA was more solid state sounding with lots of air. The Vincent is different. This thing is way more bang for your buck. It performs way more than what the price dictates. And I don't remember the AVA creating a venue like the Vincent. the Vincent gives you the real tube presence and the slam you need with SS. It's got real texture and of course the mids on a tube rig and solid state rig are different...at least to my ears. And with my Vincent preamp, I've found great synergy with a NOS 12au7 tube, with a pair of TEN 5751's....I am in audio bliss right now. Good luck with the Pass...it too is a great amp, and I have it on good faith they match up really well with your Maggies.

But do keep in mind, you already have the AVA preamp. I think it will server you well to get a AVA amp instead of the Pass Labs. Not because the Pass Labs is bad, but because the special synergy that will come from like minded designs from the same designer is always best. There is a certain synergy that comes from the same amp/preamp when you get to a certain level. Peabody has a Pass Labs preamp and amp.....I have a Vincent preamp and amp. there is a certain synergy between the same amp/preamp that wont be accomplished if you have different matched gear at this level. Will it still perform...yes, but not at the level the designers intended. They have designed each piece with their own gear in mind and not some one elses. Once I got the Vincent amp to go with my Vincent preamp, I was made a believer. There is a guy over at Audiokarma who just purchased the matching piece to his Marantz Reference and is also experiencing the same thing, that special synergy that is so hard to come by. So if I where you, seeing you have the AVA preamp and DAC, you should go for the matching amp as well.

[blackraven]

Frenchmon, I have not bought the Pass yet, I have to work out the details and I am still negotiating. I am looking at an X-250 but may buy an X-150. I was going to pull the trigger on the Vincent until I found the Pass amps. I am taking a chance because I like the tube sound. And I agree with your assessment of the 400R amp. It needed some warmer sounding tubes. But I have to think that a Pass amp that sold for $5000 new will take my system to another level. Every thing that I have read about the older X series amps speak of its great sense of air, transparency and detail. They are supposed to be very smooth with great control. Besides, if I don't like the sound, I am sure that I could turn around and sell it fairly easily.