530 has landed!!

mdkim

mdkim

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Look what daddy's got :snicker:. I wanted to know how Solution paired with Magico and luck would have it that I have a few weeks to find out.

The unit is broken in and sounds pretty good. There is a smoothness but certain sounds are much more forward than with my Pass gear. Bass is also less punchy and textured and, while there may be cleaner/clearer highs, I think my Pass gear is more resolving of micro-detail. I'm going to let the gear run for a few days to settle in before I come to any hard conclusions. It'll be fun and interesting though!

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Keep us updated. Very cool Michael. You've been a busy boy.
 
Very cool Michael !!

I'll be picking up the Constellation stereo amp Friday, David said it sounds spectacular with the S5's !!
 
Michael, please post back your impressions. Agree with Mark/David, Constellation and S5s is a nice combo, especially mids on up. Perhaps another alternative to think about?:audiophile:
 
Very interesting. I think they need more settling time before making any concrete conclusions. I stopped thinking about other amps once I put Pass XS's in my system.
 
Michael...you get to play with / demo some very cool gear. Enjoy and let us know what you think! Thx
 
Mike said:
Cool Mike. Any chance you will get a 711 to try?
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Sadly, no 711. I may have had a chance at the older 7 series monos but I'd read so many negatives about them and read about the "newer" silkier sound that I wanted the newer shinny stuff :P.

I know David's got a 711 en route and I'm very anxious to hear his thoughts.

It's still too early to tell but, I woke up early this morning to see how the pretty Swiss blond was doing and, like Christian intimated, I get a feeling that my Pass amps have made themselves a permanent home here. I'll follow up in a few days with, hopefully, more insight.
 
Ok. Pulled the plug early on this one. It's been running since early yesterday and I can't imagine it getting drastically better over the next few days as it is a fully broken-in unit.

The Solution 530, in my system, is smooth and extended with good air but the bass lacks shape, texture and impact. It is flat. In fact, the entire presentation was very high-fi (for lack of a better descriptor) and flat. This is not to say the stage lacked width and depth. Dave Matthews sounded good, I could make out the violin, sax and of course the rest of the band at varying spots on stage but the images themselves lacked dimension and realism when compared to my Pass gear. The sax was very forward which at first impressed me, as were some voices and ambient effects, but after continuing to listen it didn't sound as "real," or what I consider "real." It sounded like everything was compressed.

After bitching and moaning while rerouting cables I couldn't be more relieved as when I saw the blue lights click on on my Xs amps. Even after just a few minutes of powering up, everything was more fleshed out, and sounded like actual people singing/playing. I'm pretty sure I've just grown accustomed to, and I've been spoiled by, my Pass gear; it does cost almost twice as much! I've probably done the 530 a disservice as I really should be comparing it to gear in its price tier but I don't have other amps around for comparison (like a certain Joe we know).

And, while it's so subjective, I really did want to like the integrated. It looks sleek and modern, takes up much less room, and uses less power. Perhaps the new 7 series monos would give me more to think about but they'll be six figures and I don't see that happening. One thing I also must mention is Solution remote is horrible! It's oddly shaped and not very intuitive for first timers.

Anyways, IMO, the Pass/Magico combo is phenomenal and will be in my home for a while.
 
Thanks Mike. Good write up. Do you have anywhere you could borrow a Constellation amp? There seems to be a consensus on the synergy with the S5's. But it's hard to believe there is much that will best the Pass amps. Maybe just get a Lumin and call it a day! :)


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rockitman said:
Nice write up Michael. Very informative.
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Thanks.

Mike said:
Thanks Mike. Good write up. Do you have anywhere you could borrow a Constellation amp? There seems to be a consensus on the synergy with the S5's. But it's hard to believe there is much that will best the Pass amps. Maybe just get a Lumin and call it a day! :)


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I don't think I'll be able to arrange a Constellation loaner but I will check them out on S5s (my local Constellation guy carries Magico and Wilson).

Agree on the Lumin and done possibility. My order will be placed later today. I'm so close to having everything dialed in I can taste it. Although there are those damn Ultra5s I'm waffling back and forth on...and did I just hear someone whisper the Xs pre into my ear :huh:.
 
Thank you Michael. Great reading. I do think Pass/Magico is a winner. Add the Lumin (and the Xs peamp) and be done. I just wish I had the space/cooling for the Xs amps. Sigh. Enjoy!
 
Great write up Michael !

You and I agree on the Solution, I know there are a bunch of people out there that love the Solution gear,and for them I'm happy, we all have different tastes.

I think a Lumin and the XS preamp will give you all you want !!
 
Tomorrow's the big day huh Mark! Don't know that I would swap the sexy amp for the sexy model but it's clear none of us think logically :bonkers:.
 
mdkim said:
Tomorrow's the big day huh Mark! Don't know that I would swap the sexy amp for the sexy model but it's clear none of us think logically :bonkers:.
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Lmao !!

I'm going to try and get down to David's tomorrow,weather permitting, we have 1/2 inch of snow so far this morning. So who knows :skeptical:
 
mdkim said:
Thanks.



I don't think I'll be able to arrange a Constellation loaner but I will check them out on S5s (my local Constellation guy carries Magico and Wilson).

Agree on the Lumin and done possibility. My order will be placed later today. I'm so close to having everything dialed in I can taste it. Although there are those damn Ultra5s I'm waffling back and forth on...and did I just hear someone whisper the Xs pre into my ear :huh:.
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I use Ultra 5's under my XS amps in a tripod config under the power supply chassis (amps are stacked). I tried 4 but the bottom is exactly perfectly level (not making even contact on all 4) so I put two in the rear just inside the stock feet and one in the middle up front. It added more transparency/clarity to the amps sound.
 
rockitman said:
I use Ultra 5's under my XS amps in a tripod config under the power supply chassis (amps are stacked). I tried 4 but the bottom is exactly perfectly level (not making even contact on all 4) so I put two in the rear just inside the stock feet and one in the middle up front. It added more transparency/clarity to the amps sound.
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I suppose there's more tweaking to be done after all. I was thinking under my speakers but perhaps I'll also try them under my amps/pre. From what I've read, they don't tip the highs excessively like the Symposium blocks do which is why I've shied away from anything under my Pass gear (other than my SRA bases).

Mark: as pretty as the Constellation amp was, she's much better to look at :).
 
Michael, if I was to use Ultra 5's the speakers would be my first choice then amps. I would like to hear your opinion on the "520" preamp in front of your PASS amps compared to the PASS preamp.
 
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