Parasound to Pass Upgrade

@audphile1

Martin Logan Expression ESL 13A Electrostatic Speakers

My ultimate quality speakers (for me). The Pass Labs X260.8 took the ultra-high frequency edge off without losing any treble detail.  This is what people mean when they say they are analog sounding. 

I have had a few listening sessions that lasted for 2 to 4 hours where my whole system put me in a music trance that I never wanted to leave.  This happened in my late teens and early 20s with the addition of that wildwood weed.  I am now in my 70s and no juice is needed. Pure electronic heaven.

@firstonetallguy thanks!

FWIW, I went from what is arguably the best sounding Pass amp, the XA25 (so I’ve been told), to an SST Son of Ampzilla II. These were used with a variety of speakers, including my Revel F208s. The Ampzilla is as close as I’ve encountered to the sound of the XA25, but also has the requisite grunt. It was just what I needed to bridge the gap between the effortless power of a Parasound A21 and the audiophile traits of the Pass. Suffice to say, the SST is an incredible bargain of an amp. It’s also easier on the power bill.

With your budget I would consider the SST Ampzilla 2000 monoblocks. That is if you can get past their lab equipment aesthetic.

It seems quite a few Pass owners make a switch to Coda amps, a brand that shares similar roots, and is also located in NorCal. It was founded by a couple ex-Threshold engineers. Coda and Boulder are the only brands piquing my interest at this stage.

All that said, I don’t think you can go wrong with one of the higher output Pass amps. That is, if you can live with the heat and grid power consumption.

I read a lot, but seldom post. I had the JC-1's and the JC-1 pluses. No comparison !!! The pluses are night and day different, and should bring you what you are looking for. Take your music to a retailer and just listen.

I have a pair of JC1s (not the +) with matching JC2, very nice sounding and I liked having the ability to switch between class A/B and A. The JC1s run hot in class A but sound very good for lights off listening. Last year I upgraded my system to a Pass X250.5 matched to a XP-20 preamp. The Pass build quality is excellent and the sound is superb. I would put the Pass components a rung or 2 higher in sound quality, but the Parasound JC1s are pretty close.
 

I also have a Prima Luna tube preamp that I use listening to vinyl LPs or streaming from an Auralic Aries G2 through a Terminator II dac. The combination of the tube preamp with a solid state main amp is, in my opinion, the way to go for extended late night listening. Speakers are GE T-Reference. My dedicated listening room is 14x17 with 8’ ceiling.

I still have the Parasound equipment and will be selling.