FlexibleAudio
Member
George,
I don't deny that but I think it depends on the individual. I know Kent feels the XA100.5 is but that doesn't discount the main point of the comment to be patient.
Anyone Hear the New .8 Amps Yet
- Thread starter MDP
- Start date
George,
I don't deny that but I think it depends on the individual. I know Kent feels the XA100.5 is but that doesn't discount the main point of the comment to be patient.
madfloyd
New member
Lloyd, I've pretty much taken your advice. I put the Shunyata power cords in a couple days ago. The Stillpoints remain under the amps (and not the speakers) and music is playing 24/7. I'm trying to hard not to tinker...
Ian, i have my fingers crossed for you. I am working all weekend so will be on the laptop, and will keep AShark/WBF on background.
Hi Ian...how is it going? Any updates?
madfloyd
New member
Here's my latest thoughts:
I managed to hold out until Saturday afternoon before tinkering with the actual amps. I'm not sure there's been any big swing in tonal character of either the amp or the Shunyata Alpha HC's. However, before messing with the amps, I tried switching the power cables of my preamp and phono stage to my MIT Z-III's. My thought was: if Shunyata is just a tad dark, perhaps the darkness accumulates with multiple components using their power cords. What I learned was the Shunyata are so much better on bass. My Z-III's produce a lumpy bottom end that I used to think was room response, but now know better.
I switched the power cords back to my MIT Z-III's late Saturday afternoon and while my wife and I were listening to the new Elbow album (which is fantastic, btw - if you like the latest Beck you'll probably like Elbow) I found myself thinking the upper mids/low treble was a little forward sounding and went back to the Shunyatas. We then went and watched a movie, then had dinner - which gave the power cords some time to settle in.
We spent Saturday evening listening to music. The combination of these new Pass amps and the Shunyata power cords, while not the tonal balance I'm striving for, is still beyond impressive. It's like being at a concert. The bass is monstrously rock solid and tight. The soundstage is huge. The meat-on-the-bones is there in spades and the sound is full of presence.
Sunday morning I listened again and was once again frustrated by how buried hi-hats and cymbals are. I found myself not enjoying jazz so I switched to the MIT cables again. After giving it a few hours to adjust I tried listening and it was still a bit dark for my taste. Worse was that I feel that the upper mids were a bit hot. This was confirmed when my wife joined me late Sunday afternoon. She sat down and said "You put the MIT's back in, didn't you? I find it harsh." Her ears are MUCH better than mine. I don't know if the Shunyatas just roll off the aggressive highs or if they truly 'clean them up'. Or maybe the aggressive highs are created by the MIT's. All I know is the difference is not subtle.
So the Shunyatas went back in. My ears were somewhat plugged and I didn't enjoy it - even hours later before going to bed. This morning they were pretty clear and I listened for an hour before going to work. Just random stuff, but I heard deep, huge bass on some electronica that was to die for. Yeah, I would still like less bass and more high frequency extension, but damn if I could ever NOT have this sonic muscle. I feel like I have Maxx's or XLF's.
Today I contacted Wilson and asked them to send me various resistors to boost the tweeter in my Alexias - my way of trying to make these amps work because their prowess is worth fighting for. I do need to go back to my .5's and give them a workout before my audition period expires (I've been given an extension until a week from today) but I have a feeling I'll be hanging on to these and making them work. I recently sold an EMM Labs DAC2X which I wish I still had because it is much leaner and more extended than my Playback Designs DAC - which sounds very warm as does my analog rig. I also know my Pass XP-30 is VERY warm sounding compared to any other preamp I've used so there might be a solution somewhere.
I guess that's it for now.
I managed to hold out until Saturday afternoon before tinkering with the actual amps. I'm not sure there's been any big swing in tonal character of either the amp or the Shunyata Alpha HC's. However, before messing with the amps, I tried switching the power cables of my preamp and phono stage to my MIT Z-III's. My thought was: if Shunyata is just a tad dark, perhaps the darkness accumulates with multiple components using their power cords. What I learned was the Shunyata are so much better on bass. My Z-III's produce a lumpy bottom end that I used to think was room response, but now know better.
I switched the power cords back to my MIT Z-III's late Saturday afternoon and while my wife and I were listening to the new Elbow album (which is fantastic, btw - if you like the latest Beck you'll probably like Elbow) I found myself thinking the upper mids/low treble was a little forward sounding and went back to the Shunyatas. We then went and watched a movie, then had dinner - which gave the power cords some time to settle in.
We spent Saturday evening listening to music. The combination of these new Pass amps and the Shunyata power cords, while not the tonal balance I'm striving for, is still beyond impressive. It's like being at a concert. The bass is monstrously rock solid and tight. The soundstage is huge. The meat-on-the-bones is there in spades and the sound is full of presence.
Sunday morning I listened again and was once again frustrated by how buried hi-hats and cymbals are. I found myself not enjoying jazz so I switched to the MIT cables again. After giving it a few hours to adjust I tried listening and it was still a bit dark for my taste. Worse was that I feel that the upper mids were a bit hot. This was confirmed when my wife joined me late Sunday afternoon. She sat down and said "You put the MIT's back in, didn't you? I find it harsh." Her ears are MUCH better than mine. I don't know if the Shunyatas just roll off the aggressive highs or if they truly 'clean them up'. Or maybe the aggressive highs are created by the MIT's. All I know is the difference is not subtle.
So the Shunyatas went back in. My ears were somewhat plugged and I didn't enjoy it - even hours later before going to bed. This morning they were pretty clear and I listened for an hour before going to work. Just random stuff, but I heard deep, huge bass on some electronica that was to die for. Yeah, I would still like less bass and more high frequency extension, but damn if I could ever NOT have this sonic muscle. I feel like I have Maxx's or XLF's.
Today I contacted Wilson and asked them to send me various resistors to boost the tweeter in my Alexias - my way of trying to make these amps work because their prowess is worth fighting for. I do need to go back to my .5's and give them a workout before my audition period expires (I've been given an extension until a week from today) but I have a feeling I'll be hanging on to these and making them work. I recently sold an EMM Labs DAC2X which I wish I still had because it is much leaner and more extended than my Playback Designs DAC - which sounds very warm as does my analog rig. I also know my Pass XP-30 is VERY warm sounding compared to any other preamp I've used so there might be a solution somewhere.
I guess that's it for now.
FlexibleAudio
Member
Ian, Thanks again for your latest impressions. It would be really great if you could provide some relative perspective of the differences you are observing of the .8's versus the .5's with the same cabling, etc.
Thanks,
Thanks,
All in all, MadFloyd given HOW many changes you have just made to your system...given the fact that somewhere in there, more burn-in may still be required, I think you are actually off to quite a GOOD start. You have essentially built the 'architecture' you thought SHOULD sound best, and there are clearly areas where you seem confident the equipment is better (Shunyata linearity vs MIT) in your system. It even corrected problems I think you originally assumed were the room.
...as you rightfully have concluded for your next step, the Alexias are extremely adjustable to your room, equipment and your ears.
My gut says you may be on your way to confirming that this equipment set up is 'worth fighting for' as you say. Not only technically superior to your earlier equipment...which is always a good place to start...but further that once you have adjusted the Alexias, you may well find a lot of things all into place.
You need to take your time of course, and continue to burn in and adjust the system...please bear in mind as you adjust your Alexias, your equipment may still be burnining too. Nevertheless, hopefully some of that is out of the way. Good luck.
Ian - move the Alexia tweeter ahead 1-2 "indents". It accomplishes something very similar to the resistor change. Also, there are resistors that came with your Alexia's. Did you ask if any of those would work?
madfloyd
New member
Coincidentally I tried this very thing - 2 notches forward and it didn't do the trick. I didn't ask about the resistors that came with the Alexias, but I would think Wilson would have brought that up when I asked them for resistors.
madfloyd
New member
Thanks, Lloyd.
In my limited experience, I think the resistors on my X1s made quite a difference. We actually took the ones out that it came with...and nearly took my ears off...the next one was a bit recessed, but only a touch. Another resistor put in...0.7db more later and perfect.
dfwmediagroup
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
- Messages
- 105
Amp shootout Sunday at Design Audio Video. Will be listening to and comparing amps tommorow:
Pass Labs XA100.8, Constellation Centaur, Soulution 711, Accuphase A-200.
Stay tuned for the results.
Pass Labs XA100.8, Constellation Centaur, Soulution 711, Accuphase A-200.
Stay tuned for the results.
Staying tuned!!!!! I have heard the Constellation Centaur, but none of the others. Will be most interested to read your thoughts. Enjoy!
madfloyd
New member
+1! Looking forward to this!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
the professor
Well-known member
Penthouse-D
New member
Wow! Doesn't get much better than that! Certainly one stop shopping. The only thing missing is some Vitus gear…