djfst said:
" The new IQ continuous auto bias in the latest VAC amps are a night and day difference from their prior 160, 200, 300 phi models. Far more smoother and transparent, tighter bass, etc and more stable power output makes it a lot easier to handle all speakers. I owned the VAC and as well as the SF Olympicas and the Elipsa and handled them fine. the VACs are paired with Magicos, Focals, Vandersteens, Sonus Fabers, Harbeths, and know they can drive them well, even with the stock KT88s. But if you're in love with the PASS LABS, then you it seems like you found what the sound you're after."
The problem I'm having in moving to a Pass is size and heat. That and the fact that as joeinid noted above, the next amp up the line that shares the true greatness of the 60.5's that I like so much are the 160.5's. Those are not only huge, but can each double as a furnace, in my room, I could sell space as a sauna. Not to mention they are thousands out of my budget.
I was considering the highly rate Pass 350.8, and one was just available at a price several thousand under the going rate, and in my budget, but it sold before I could make a final decision.
So I was strongly leaning back toward the VAC and even talked to them at length. I know the PHI 300.1 will handle my speakers perfectlY, and there is one available, but it's not the latest series which you've noted represent a "night and day difference". And the newer model PHI 300.1a, on the very rare occasion it is available for sale, used, runs in the $10k area and also out of my budget.
Those situations currently have me in a position where there isn't a clear choice unless I go with the PHI 300.1 available at the moment, which, both you, and an audiophile friend from Chicago have advised me is decidedly lower in sound quality than the newer version.
" The new IQ continuous auto bias in the latest VAC amps are a night and day difference from their prior 160, 200, 300 phi models. Far more smoother and transparent, tighter bass, etc and more stable power output makes it a lot easier to handle all speakers. I owned the VAC and as well as the SF Olympicas and the Elipsa and handled them fine. the VACs are paired with Magicos, Focals, Vandersteens, Sonus Fabers, Harbeths, and know they can drive them well, even with the stock KT88s. But if you're in love with the PASS LABS, then you it seems like you found what the sound you're after."
The problem I'm having in moving to a Pass is size and heat. That and the fact that as joeinid noted above, the next amp up the line that shares the true greatness of the 60.5's that I like so much are the 160.5's. Those are not only huge, but can each double as a furnace, in my room, I could sell space as a sauna. Not to mention they are thousands out of my budget.
I was considering the highly rate Pass 350.8, and one was just available at a price several thousand under the going rate, and in my budget, but it sold before I could make a final decision.
So I was strongly leaning back toward the VAC and even talked to them at length. I know the PHI 300.1 will handle my speakers perfectlY, and there is one available, but it's not the latest series which you've noted represent a "night and day difference". And the newer model PHI 300.1a, on the very rare occasion it is available for sale, used, runs in the $10k area and also out of my budget.
Those situations currently have me in a position where there isn't a clear choice unless I go with the PHI 300.1 available at the moment, which, both you, and an audiophile friend from Chicago have advised me is decidedly lower in sound quality than the newer version.