costliest tube amp ?

[ranjeetrain]

Agree, Sid. Most important in that list is personal prejudice. How come an expensive piece of kit gets heaps of praise by one reviewer but fails to impress another? Environmental considerations. Matching, synergy, personal taste. Gordon Holt of Stereophile gave a very agreeable explanation to this phenomena.

Hifi begins to get complex once one moves above the basic systems.

 

[ranjeetrain]

I am considering a Pass Labs too. Hope no surprises!

The XA200.5 that you are considering, should be a gem of a machine. Yet to hear that.

 

[square_wave]

I agree Sid and ROC.

I was just trying to bring into perspective the fact that many notions in the high end world can be very deceptive. For example this SA Reference was in circulation in Bangalore for almost 3 years trying to find a seller. Unfortunately most people who knew about this amp (with different speakers) found the other design or an alternative better.
But it finally got sold.

Now in a completely different setup with the right kind of ancillary equipment and for someone with a different taste in sound, someone may find the SA ref better.

I am just trying to say that universal truths do not sometimes work in high end audio.

 

[sidvee]

I am considering a Pass Labs too. Hope no surprises!

The XA200.5 that you are considering, should be a gem of a machine. Yet to hear that.

Ranjeet, Pass does not have an Indian dealer. Nearest is Singapore if you want a 240v unit. Other option, US Nevada Dealer is willing to ship to India for a discounted price. Of-course customs is not considered in price. PM me if you are interested, and I will send you the info.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[sidvee]

. For example this SA Reference was in circulation in Bangalore for almost 3 years trying to find a seller.

One more thing I have found out about pre-owned high end in India, there are a lot of defective pieces floating around, which are not up-to spec. I heard about another unit from a different manufacturer that kept changing hands, because "it was not able to drive speakers well enough to produce decent bass", when that amp. could nail the ba*%s of any speaker that I know to the wall. Turned out that the amp. was defective, leakings caps. Not sure if this could be the case here as well.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[ranjeetrain]

That will be great, Sid. I'll pm you. It will be useful to have an idea how much this thing will set me back.

 

[prem]

Hi Ranjeettrain

For Pass Labs stuff write to Mark at Renohifi. He is very good and knows the Pass Labs stuff inside out.

 

[sidvee]

Hi Ranjeettrain

For Pass Labs stuff write to Mark at Renohifi. He is very good and knows the Pass Labs stuff inside out.

Yes this is the same Gentleman I was in touch with.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[GeorgeO]

Wow, looks like both you guys(Sidvee and Prem) know a little more about Nevada than just the casinos and the resorts..

 

[GeorgeO]

( and the dealers there)

 

[sidvee]

Wow, looks like both you guys(Sidvee and Prem) know a little more about Nevada than just the casinos and the resorts..

:lol:
Apparently Reno Hifi is a large and respected Pass Labs dealer, and he (Mark) is willing to ship to India. That's all I am guilty of.hyeah:
BTW I didn't know for a long time that Prostitution is Legal in the state of Nevada.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[prem]

Wine, women and song go together. Or at least thats what i have been told.

 

[sidvee]

Wine, women and song go together. Or at least thats what i have been told.

:clapping:

 

[square_wave]

One more thing I have found out about pre-owned high end in India, there are a lot of defective pieces floating around, which are not up-to spec. I heard about another unit from a different manufacturer that kept changing hands, because "it was not able to drive speakers well enough to produce decent bass", when that amp. could nail the ba*%s of any speaker that I know to the wall. Turned out that the amp. was defective, leakings caps. Not sure if this could be the case here as well.
Cheers,
Sid

Yes,

There is a chance that this could also be the case.

I am big fan of Symphonic line amps though. Nice system you got there Sid. I heard as you go up the line with SL, the amp completely disappears. Ease and power on tap--- the amp / speaker combination becomes a unified entity !

 

[sidvee]

Nice system you got there Sid. I heard as you go up the line with SL, the amp completely disappears. Ease and power on tap--- the amp / speaker combination becomes a unified entity !

Thanks Square. Yes exactly, you are echoing my description of the Kraft. Anyways the most important quality the Kraft 250 has brought to my system is total absence of any listening fatigue, even after 2-3 hour Jazz trumpet sessions, and this from an amp. that has 12-15 hours break in time tops. Sound is buttery smooth with no hint of grain, grit, distortion, compression etc. I have heard quite a few SS amps. and none possessed this capability (even my previous Rg7), and though tube amps. are more forgiving in this respect, they almost always do not have the drive and slam in bass/dynamics and top end sparkle, as does the Kraft. I look forward now to my long listening sessions.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[ranjeetrain]

Hi Ranjeettrain

For Pass Labs stuff write to Mark at Renohifi. He is very good and knows the Pass Labs stuff inside out.

Hi Prem, Sid gave me the contact of the same person. I will surely get in touch with Mark.

 

[ranjeetrain]

the most important quality the Kraft 250 has brought to my system is total absence of any listening fatigue, even after 2-3 hour Jazz trumpet sessions, and this from an amp. that has 12-15 hours break in time tops. Sound is buttery smooth with no hint of grain, grit, distortion, compression etc. I have heard quite a few SS amps. and none possessed this capability (even my previous Rg7), and though tube amps. are more forgiving in this respect, they almost always do not have the drive and slam in bass/dynamics and top end sparkle, as does the Kraft. I look forward now to my long listening sessions.

Do you leave your amp on all the time?

My experience with Odyssey amps (which share quite a bit in common with SL RG series) has been that it wants to be left on. Every time I start it up, it like slogs for first half an hour at least, before getting into groove. I suppose it would be the trait of the entire SL line?

 

[captrajesh]

I am considering a Pass Labs too.

I'm just being curious. You are considering the costlier Pass Labs than lower priced but better sounding Threshold!! Is that because Threshold is a discontinued model?

I was considering the Pass Labs amp and while studying it came to know about Threshold. Finally managed to hear both of them and found that the Threshold is actually a better sounding amp than the Pass Lab.

 

[sidvee]

Do you leave your amp on all the time?

My experience with Odyssey amps (which share quite a bit in common with SL RG series) has been that it wants to be left on. Every time I start it up, it like slogs for first half an hour at least, before getting into groove. I suppose it would be the trait of the entire SL line?

Ranjeet your observation is correct. Unfortunately with Hyd. weather/power cuts, it is next to impossible to leave the amp. on always. I turn on the amp. 30-40 min before listening and feel that the amp. hits its stride at about an hour after being on. I used to own an Odysssey Stratos extreme as well so I can relate.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[ranjeetrain]

I'm just being curious. You are considering the costlier Pass Labs than lower priced but better sounding Threshold!! Is that because Threshold is a discontinued model?

No, because the price quoted for the Threshold is more than two times the price it goes for on Agon. After paying such a premium, I still won't have peace of mind. Things like, what if something goes wrong, we are talking about thousands of USDs here. The higher price I will pay for will be for the warranty and peace of mind.

And yet, I still have to sign the check. I am just considering and I have too many choices.