Pass Labs vs. Sugden
This topic was discussed in another thread, albeit with a twist, but it is still the same question: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/what-class-a-is-better-sugden-fpa-4-or-pass-labs-xa-25/post?p... |
A friend came over and brought his Pass Int-60 to try in my system, which was no easy task. I had been using tube integrateds from Cary, Rogue, BAT. And at the time I had a Primaluna. We had the Pass plugged in for about an hour before the units were switched . It was an OMG moment. The sound stage was wider, the music filled the room, bass was full and controlled. Unfortunately the amp is to large and did not fit my current layout. After that I started looking into Class A integrated amps and ended up with a new Sugden A21se Sig. Do not discount the Sugden. For me it is just a satisfying as the Pass. Its just that the English took a little different path to get there. |
@georgehifi I always enjoy and learn from your posts. Have you done any comparisons between Pass and the others (Sugden, Belles, Clayton) that puts it first and foremost for you?No A/B’s, but just looking at the internals, the Sugden looks to me like it could be a "anaemic" version of Pass amps, look at the transformer size, amount of output transistors and power supply capacitors. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0212/2502/products/A21SE-INTERNAL-1-WS_large.jpeg?v=1496938402 lots of empty space. There’s also a reason they are saying the Pass get’s hotter, even though it’s bigger heavier and got more heatsinking, it’s most probably because it has more "music making" Class-A bias than the Sugden. Cheers George |
Read again, not the sound, what’s inside! Even on Sugdens "biggest power amp", from 2006 the transformer and very thing is "anaemic" in comparison inside https://neophonics.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/SUGDEN-MASTERCLASS-SPA-4-STEREO-AMP_1709N-INTERNAL... Compare that to Pass https://youtu.be/Ytqk_9z0KMQ Sugdens could be nice sounding amps for small 2 way to medium size systems for unit dwellers, even bedroom systems. They are not in the same "bruiser" league as Pass Labs stuff. Cheers George |
