Amps with a touch of warmth: Pass/Luxman/Antileon

MichaelsMinute said:
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!
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This post is a little late. But here goes...about 2 years ago I traveled to Sarasota and Suncoast Audio to compare 7 different integrated amps. The amps included the Pass int 60, Hegel 590, Naim Supernat 3, Luxman 509x, Moon 340ix, Gryphon D300, and VAC 170i. After about 6 hours of A/B-ing I decided on a Pass Labs int 250 and I couldn't be happier, However, my choice was based on the int 60, which I was extremely impressed with. ALL of the amps I auditioned were outstanding and I would be very contented to own any of them, for a lifetime. I never had the opportunity to audition the int 250 so I took a gamble and purchased the int 250. IMHO, from the standpoint of over all quality the Pass Labs int 250 was, at least, the equal of any of the amps I tried. That's one of the reasons I purchased it. At $12,500 I wanted to be darn sure regarding my choice. I couldn't agree more with you regarding the Luxman. Their products are second to none. But for my application the int 250 was the answer. I did get the opportunity to audition the int 60 with speakers identical to those I have at home (Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary). It sounded stellar. I also purchased the MSB Discrete DAC/streamer which added to the richness of the sound. But, this is not a true comparison between amps. Too many variables. I highly recommend either the Luxman or int 250. You can't lose either way. My ears and my 2 cents worth.
 
bluegrassphile said:
This post is a little late. But here goes...about 2 years ago I traveled to Sarasota and Suncoast Audio to compare 7 different integrated amps. The amps included the Pass int 60, Hegel 590, Naim Supernat 3, Luxman 509x, Moon 340ix, Gryphon D300, and VAC 170i. After about 6 hours of A/B-ing I decided on a Pass Labs int 250 and I couldn't be happier, However, my choice was based on the int 60, which I was extremely impressed with. ALL of the amps I auditioned were outstanding and I would be very contented to own any of them, for a lifetime. I never had the opportunity to audition the int 250 so I took a gamble and purchased the int 250. IMHO, from the standpoint of over all quality the Pass Labs int 250 was, at least, the equal of any of the amps I tried. That's one of the reasons I purchased it. At $12,500 I wanted to be darn sure regarding my choice. I couldn't agree more with you regarding the Luxman. Their products are second to none. But for my application the int 250 was the answer. I did get the opportunity to audition the int 60 with speakers identical to those I have at home (Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary). It sounded stellar. I also purchased the MSB Discrete DAC/streamer which added to the richness of the sound. But, this is not a true comparison between amps. Too many variables. I highly recommend either the Luxman or int 250. You can't lose either way. My ears and my 2 cents worth.
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What was it about the sound that you liked more on the Pass labs over the Luxman?
 
It just seemed to be a warmer sound to my ears. Someone else may think the opposite. But, after 2 years the int 250 sounds better and better. I also like the class A feature whereby the amp stays class A up to 15 watts then converts to class A/B. That's about it. It just has something the other amps I auditioned doesn't. It's an amp that's very pleasing to my ears. I don't know what else to say. As I said in my initial review, ALL the amps I auditioned sounded superb. But my ears liked the int 250 a little more than the others.
 
I migrated from NP DIY FirstWatt amps to the Atma-Sphere Class D amps.

Slightly on the warm side of neutral, with pleasant spectra. Easy to lift/carry, and light on the heat production. Both XLR, and RCA inputs. (I need XLR for long IC run)

Listen to them before all the complaining.
 
Smile said:
So, it also has a bright present?
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Certainly! Its taken over everywhere- high end is the only hold out, but even there class D has put all tube amp manufacturers on notice of being on borrowed time (whether they got that memo or not is a different story). IMO if any amplifier manufacturer does not get a handle on class D they are in danger of being left behind.
 
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