reg19

Responses from reg19

Pass x260.8 v. Parasound JC1+?
@christianb5s4 Also: Pass X260.8 mates better with REF6 than the JC1+ does. According to Pass, Audio Research is the most popular preamp combo with Pass amps (other than Pass preamps, of course - which aren’t that great, IMHO).  
Pass x260.8 v. Parasound JC1+?
@christianb5s4  perhaps, if I had your system, I’d try the X260.8 first - as your speakers are not difficult to drive. In my system, especially while listening to classical music, I got a fuller sound (including better transients) with the JC1+ -... 
Pass x260.8 v. Parasound JC1+?
I have had both JC1+ & x260.8 monos in my house for the past 3 months. Speakers: Focal Maestro Utopia III with twin REL subs DAC: Holo May Preamps: VAC Renaissance Mk V and the Audio Research REF6   I did a lot of back and forth between t... 
Signalyst HQPlayer - Is it worth the upgrade?
HQP is fantastic - particularly the new version. I use the M1 Mac Studio to host HQP (with an Intel NUC hosting Roon) and usually upsample to either DSD256 / Sinc-MGa / AMSDM7Ec 512+fs or to PCM 768 / LNS15 / Sinc Long. Best to use a Network Audio... 
Pass Labs XA30.8 vs XA60.8 moon blocks
@z32kerber  Based on official specs, your speakers:   - have 89dB sensitivity at 4 ohms, which is sort of equivalent to 86dB at 8 ohms - have recommended amplifier power range from 75 - 300 W per channel.   Based on this, I’d recommend the X26... 
Parasound to Pass Upgrade
@dubz IMHO, Parasound preamps aren't anywhere as good as their new amps are.   I had the A21 / P6 combo a few years ago. Moving up from P6 (think I went to a Mac C2600 back then) was a big upgrade.  
Parasound to Pass Upgrade
@decooney  Re: tube preamps, there are still levels. I have two tube preamps at home. With Audio Research REF6, JC1+ sound 'average', restrained. With the same preamp, the Pass X260.8 sound magical.   Re: heat, there is not much difference be... 
Parasound to Pass Upgrade
@audphile1  The Maestro III are 3.5 way speakers. They dip down to 1.7 ohms at 110Hz.  
Parasound to Pass Upgrade
@taylorro Interesting. Currently, I own both the X260.8 and the JC1+ and have A/B’ed them several times. Conclusion: Pass is more musical / euphonic. I currently have two sets of speakers at home: Focal Scala Utopia (sold to someone, awaiting d... 
CLASS A POWER RATINGS
So, if I compare, say a Pass Labs XA 30.8 (30W class A) vs a Pass Labs X260.8 (1st 34W are class A assuming 8 ohm loads) at regular listening levels on efficient speakers (so, at 1-5W power at listening levels), are they two different levels of Cl... 
Made the move: Focal Maestro 3 to Focal Maestro EVO
Also: with Focals (through experience), I would stay away from dry-sounding class D amplification. Other than that, even inexpensive amps like McIntosh, Hegel, and Pass Labs go well with Focal (so long as they have good peak current capability, an... 
Made the move: Focal Maestro 3 to Focal Maestro EVO
Hiendmmoe: congratulations. I have owned several Focal speakers (Electra 1038Be, Sopra 3, Scala V1, and now Maestro III). I do not like bright sounding speakers and the smaller Focals (1038Be) are bright. However, to me, the Maestro III lean ev... 
Does anyone own a VAC Renaissance mk5 SE Preamplifier?
Amazing, amazing preamplifier! VAC actually uses it sometimes at audio shows to pair with equipment costing ten times as much. I have not heard of any preamp (including ARC / Mac) that has such realistic voicing of instruments & such sweet vo... 
SQ of digital volume controls compared to preamplifiers
I get fantastic sound quality this way: I have a tube preamp (VAC Renaissance Mk V, very quiet and sounds great) that I set at a volume level that would be the max listening level I’d ever use (for the softest tracks). Then, I use HQPlayer’s dig... 
Help recommend a good tube preamp
An update on my search: TL/DR - I am a proud owner of a VAC Renaissance Mk V. I ended up buying a Rogue RP7 to try out from a fellow Audiogon member. It sounded nice for its price. The issue I have is that I have a very high gain setup (my DAC ou...