Best Tube Amp For Sonus Faber? Or Pass XA-100.5? $6-7,500 Budget, Purchasing Used.
There is a VAC Phi 300.1 for sale on Audiogon right now for $8,150. You could probably get him down to $7,500 or better. That's 150 wpc of tube bliss. I have to admit though, as someone who has moved on from a 85 wpc tube amp to a pair of Pass Labs XA-100.5 mono-blocks, I am quit happy with the change, |
I tend to agree with George, I'm not sure that a tube amp would work well with the
Sonus Faber Olympica III's, they are not an easy load. Any VAC amp that can put out 100 wpc and use KT-150 tubes though MAY be able to do it. I was actually using a VAC 160iSE integrated amp before the XA-100.5 mono-blocks, and my speakers have similar specs (90 dB, 5 ohm versus your 90 dB, 4 ohm). Switching to the XA-100.5 amps, the sound-stage opened up immensely. Not really surprising going from a tube stereo amp to SS mono-block amps. Mating the Pass amps with an ARC Ref 5 preamp, the resolution of the highs and lows also became more extended and defined. The only place I would give the edge to the VAC was in the midrange. Though the Pass are quite warm and musical, the VAC had that touch of *magic* in the midrange, that fuzz on the peach quality, that only a tube amp can do. The XA-100.5's do get quite warm after a couple of hours, but I wouldn't say they turned the listening room into a sauna. They aren't close to the hottest amp I've ever owned (BAT VK-75SE). However, they are quite a bit warmer than the Jeff Rowland Model 6 mono's. Another amp to consider, since you want tubes, but don't really have tube friendly speakers, is an Aesthetix Atlas. A hybrid amp with 400 wpc into your 4 ohm load, but with a pair of 6SN7 tubes in the driver stage. Just a thought. |
Mark at Reno is a great guy to work with. I bought my XA-100.5's from him. I have noticed that Reno's used inventory has been "drying up" though. I've been looking because I have thoughts of moving up to a XA-60.8/100.8. Haven't seen much used stock in there though, mostly just demo's which are still quite pricey. Keep your eye on HifiShark too! |
@nightfall , I see a pair of Pass Labs XA-160.5’s just listed for $7,495. Maybe more weight and heat than you wanted, but that’s a pretty good price, IMHO. I have no relation with the seller. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-pass-labs-xa-160-5-monoblock-pair-2017-06-12-amplifier... |
Yes, the 100.5 work very effectively in single ended mode. I am surprised to hear that the 160.5’s would operate differently, as the specs are identical (aside from the power), and I assume the circuitry is identical as well. I see the seller has marked that ad as "Sold", and relisted while raising his asking price $1,000. |
If the 60.5’s seem likely to power your speakers, I would re-read the Stereophile review of them, where John Atkinson called them the finest amps he has ever auditioned. There are very, very few reviewers whose opinions I respect, and JA is definitely NOT one of them. Frankly, I don’t think JA can hear at all. I learned to ignore any comment from him decades ago. That’s not a swipe at the XA-60.5’s, I’m sure they work fine with the right speakers. |
I can create an even higher level about 6 times each year. We are at a level now that the energy of instruments can be felt separately. And even the energy of instruments can stand in a different perspective of depth. @nightfall , sorry JC, once bo stumbles onto your thread, it is destroyed with mind-numbing audio mumble jumble. It is akin to termites stumbling onto your home. Did you get your VAC amp yet? Which model did you buy? What do you think? |
