Pass INT-30A with Acoustic Zen Adagio

Lots of great input here on the topic, thanks guys.  

Newbee: If you prefer tubes like I do, then I'm afraid the Pass may not be your way out of tubes completely.  I thought it might be the way for me, but I am not realizing that dream.  It's very difficult building a system based on reviews and articles online.  For a while there, I was staying firm on my personal policy of never buying anything before I heard it, but due to the limited selection at dealers in my area, I had no choice but to buy online.  I then tried sticking only to online sellers that have a trial period, but I even slipped on that one too and got bit by that.  I'd love to try the Silverlines, but could only do it if I had a way to try them risk-free.  But they do sound promising based on your description.

jond: The rest of my system leans towards warm sounding ancillaries.  My interconnects are both balanced and single-ended Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref II (PCOCC copper), and Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables.  These cables are some of the most organic sounding I've heard for the money.  My DAC is a PS Audio DirectStream running the 1.2.1 firmeware, which I find to be the most organic sounding of all the firmwares.  My analog setup is a Rega RP3 with Elys 2, and a Vincent Audio PHO 8 phono stage.

missioncoonery: the Mac amps have sort of been on my radar, since they seem to have a sound that I would like.  However, I've always got the impression that they were a tad overpriced.  I've read that they haven't changed their designs much in the last 30 years, but not sure if that is entirely true.  Either way, value is all in the eye of the beholder.  If they provide a sound that is irreplaceable, then I may find it well worth the money.

steakster: I have tried a few different amps with my Acoustic Zens.  I've actually only owned the Adagios for about 3 months so far.  Prior to that I owned a pair of Golden Ear Triton 3's.  For several years, I owned a PrimaLuna Prologue Two and a Yamaha A-S2000 (winter and summer time systems, since my listening room used to be a small upstairs bedroom).  I upgraded to a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium before I got my Adagios, and found the combination to be a tad too aggressive for my tastes. This was the main reason for me getting the Pass INT-30A, as I thought it would be the end-all-be-all in terms of smoothness, liquidity, and warmth.  I was rather disappointed to find that this was not achieved when combined with the Adagios.

My local dealer sells Rogue Audio amps, and I am planning to do an audition sometime this week.  Based on the reviews, I'm not sure that it will have the sound that I am craving.  It puts out 100 watts push-pull with KT120 tubes, but 100 watts means it is driving those tubes hard.  I expect to hear a decent amount of grain (also something that the Pass was absolutely exceptional with), but as long as that does not manifest as aggressiveness in the treble, I may be ok with it, as long as I get a nice enjoyable musical sound.

Missioncoonery: I appreciate the response.  Glad to hear there is someone else that shares this opinion.  I was trying so hard to figure out if it was my speakers or amp, but I have heard a few other amps with the Adagios, and I did have them sounding pretty decent at one point.  It really is a shame because the Pass is such a quite, well-posed, dynamic amplifier without any sort of grain or hash in the treble.  I don't think I've ever heard strings produced so nicely and accurately.  If the presentation was less on the analytical side, this would have been it for me.

What speakers did you try with the Pass amp?

Newbee thanks for the response.  I do agree that the amp is amazing.  I'm just wondering if I'm out of my element, seeing as how I was a tube guy for quite a while.  I really would like to make the amp work for me, but I've been chasing my tail for about 1.5 years now trying to find a good, musical system to just sit down and enjoy, but I haven't had much luck.  I had a good thing going, then tried to change it up, and have been making adjustments ever since.

I tend to be sensitive to hyper-detail and accented treble, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to the Pass, based on everything I read.  The Pass is definitely not forward, aggressive, or bright, but I also wouldn't quite describe it as the lushest solid state amp I've ever heard.  It can definitely sound analytical if paired incorrectly.

My preferences definitely lean towards warmth, tonality, musicality, and expression.  I really could care less about imaging, soundstage, detail retrieval, etc.  Those all come second for me; I need to be able to connect emotionally to the music, and not sit there and just listen to "sound".

Would you describe the Silverlines as having a very warm, lush sound?

I am currently demoing a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II integrated.  I am noticing the same thing I did when I used my PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium with the Adagios.  There is a bit of grain somewhere in the treble that these speakers seem to emphasize.  Overall, the Pass is clearly the better amplifier, but the rogue is more forgiving of poor recordings.  But not all is good; for example, the higher octaves of stringed instruments sounds rather strident and aggressive through the Rogue, whereas on the Pass they are presented very well. 

At this point since I am using two different amplifiers and neither of them seem to fit the bill totally for these speakers, I think I should take that as a sign that the speakers need to go.  I think my ears may just have an issue with ribbon tweeters.  I had this same problem with my previous speakers, the Golden Ear Triton Three.  I am probably better off with something that implements a smooth treble using a silk dome tweeter.  It seems harder to find speakers that are voiced more towards a musical sound rather than analytical, since "more detail" is probably what sells.

@jond  I would agree with the high-end vs. budget comment.  However, I've opted to get rid of the Pass and keep the Rogue.  I tried a few different pairs of speakers with the Pass, and it sounded analytical through all of them, including the Adagios.  I have a very strong preference for musical and non-analytical, so it just was not a good match for my ears.  I've been very happy with the Rogue.  It really is an amazing amp for the money.  

@adamaley I wouldn't describe the Adagios as strident at all, it was mainly the Rogue that sounded that way (and it was actually mainly because the amp wasn't fully burned in yet).  What I notice is that with ribbon tweeters, it's like there are ultra-high frequencies being blasted at my ear; frequencies that are most likely truncated with dome tweeters.  This ultra-high frequency noise could be coming through the electrical lines, the amp, etc., but when it's there, it shreds my ears.  I will be staying away from ribbon tweeters from now on, because I've noticed this on three different speakers with ribbon tweeters.