Amps with a touch of warmth: Pass/Luxman/Antileon
- Thread starter Ricky64
- Start date
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I have experience with Pass Labs and Luxman.
The Pass INT-60 is very warm sounding and will mate well with brighter speakers. I personally found it to be too smooth and in my set up lacked emotional involvement. It also lacked some lower mid bass while having very strong low bass output.
The Luxman integrated in my opinion on my systems offers a smooth yet more involving and dynamic listen. It also has more finesse than the Pass.
To my personal tastes there is no comparison on which I preferred as it was not even close (the Luxman by a million miles). BUT many people love the Pass so you need to see if you like it.
I also feel the Luxman feels of better quality than the Pass in terms of things like how the dials feel, remote control feel and responsiveness and such.
But only can decide what you like and what works in your system.
CPP
Active member
"" I also feel the Luxman feels of better quality than the Pass in terms of things like how the dials feel", my little xa30.5 feels pretty substantial @ 75 lbs, excellent build quality, of course it has no knobs. I guess it depends on which Pass.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I think it does.
On my INT-60 the volume spins with no resistance so it doesn't offer any feedback or feeling of silky smooth quality like on the Lux.
Also the remote on the Pass was not the most responsive with it often taking several pushes of the buttons to get a response. You also have to aim the remote exactly at the unit. This is not the case with the Lux.
Remote on the Pass looks a little more DIY with the button choice vs on the Lux.
Wife feels looking at them both the Lux looks "richer" and "more like a luxury product" than the Pass.
I think my INT-60 is in the 93 lbs range, so it's definitely heavy for sure!
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
My Pass power amp was about 100 lbs and built like a literal tank. The preamp has no power button and basic features so no need for a fancy remote, it was metal and substantial, the chassis was solid to be sure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The Pass sound is warm and on the polite side, I had no issues with bass, midbass or other, this may depend on speakers. Closest I've heard to tubes in a solid state design. Of course, tubes is general as they vary in sound as much as solid state anymore.
I eventually moved to Levinson which is closer to what I like to listen to, faster and more visceral and leaning more neutral. The Pass had more meat on the bone and textures, always a trade off it seems, LOL
The Pass sound is warm and on the polite side, I had no issues with bass, midbass or other, this may depend on speakers. Closest I've heard to tubes in a solid state design. Of course, tubes is general as they vary in sound as much as solid state anymore.
I eventually moved to Levinson which is closer to what I like to listen to, faster and more visceral and leaning more neutral. The Pass had more meat on the bone and textures, always a trade off it seems, LOL
atmasphere
Active member
I've been playing a class D amp in my system that sounds just as smooth and relaxed as any tube amp I've heard. I don't miss the tube amps at all!
a.wayne
Well-known member
If you are comparing ClassD to your Atmasphere tooby Amps , i can believe its a step up and not missed for sure ... !
Regards
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I've yet to hear Class D that was natural enough to be more pleasing than a Class A/B.
Audioseduction
Active member
I myself not heard a Class D amp that sounds as organic/pleasurable as a Class A amp yet.
atmasphere
Active member
Then its time you did. Not having heard one is very different from them not existing.
u-sound
Active member
class d has a bright future, however do currently not belong in a thread as a recommendation about a touch of warmth
Barry
Member
Ralph, if it was anyone else but you extolling the virtues of Class D, I'd be inclined to believe those other guys. Haven't been a fan of Class D, but really hope I get to hear your latest creation!
atmasphere
Active member
Why?
Its the lower ordered harmonics that bring a touch of warmth to any amplifier. SETs have the most 'warmth', having the most prodigious 2nd harmonic generation of any amplifiers made.
In our class D (I can't speak for other designs) the non-linearities that cause distortion tend to make lower ordered harmonics. Overall they seem to sound a lot like our triode OTLs on that account, but owing to less distortion are more transparent (distortion tends to obscure detail). I rather doubt that our class D amps are unique in that regard but I could be wrong... So class D amps probably are on topic if their characteristics are similar.
Or am I missing something?
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
So you are saying your Class D amps have non-linearities and distortion so therefore sound warm?
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
Ralph, nevermind, I read a post of yours on another thread and it made more sense to me. I am also familiar with the Bob Carver reference you referred to.
atmasphere
Active member
Thanks.
All amps have non-linearities! Its important to audiophiles what kind of distortion results. IME distortion is far more audible than most people think- in particular people that only look at measurements. This is simply because the ear converts distortion to tonality and that is the mechanism for how an amplifier has a 'sonic signature'.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I agree with you on this.
I never realized how audible it was until the first time I heard JBL horn speakers and I was stunned by the LACK of distortion / compression I was hearing in that sound. Voices had a purity to them I was not used to.
That may not be the right technical description as you are far more technical than I am, but that's what it sounded like to me that has hooked me on horn speakers ever since.
atmasphere
Active member
If horns are properly designed they can be very low in distortion!
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
For sure. I was still really surprised the first time I heard decent horns. It was one of only a couple of epiphany moments for me in my audio journey over 40 years.