I tried the D800 with my D3's (but without SAM). It sounded really really good.
Mark (MDP) just heard the Scansonic 3.5's with the D200 and was very impressed.
New Magico speakers arriving 04/2015!
- Thread starter Bodhi
- Start date
I tried the D800 with my D3's (but without SAM). It sounded really really good.
Mark (MDP) just heard the Scansonic 3.5's with the D200 and was very impressed.
still-one
Active member
Mike
They offered to let me borrow their 800, but after comparing the units they knew it would no longer a consideration. I only bring gear home that I would really consider.
PS. I don't want anyone to misconstrue my comments that the unit sounds bad in any way. I just don't think it is yet up there with many of the top brands.
Hi Ian,
I have owned the Pass XA-100.5, XA-100.8 and now the Soulution 501 monoblocks. In my opinion, the Soulution 501's are more neutral than the XA-100.8 and significantly more neutral than the XA-100.5. With my 501's, there is just a hint of warmth in the midrange and treble. The 501's have amazing speed and bass control. There is also a great purity of musical timbres, perhaps due to their ultra low measured distortion. Overall, it is a very musical presentation that benefits, in my opinion, from some additional warmth added from the source, or in my case, my D3 speakers.
Best,
Ken
madfloyd
New member
Ahh, thanks, Ken. Yeah, I'm guessing Soulution wouldn't be a good match for Magico Q or M-Project in that case, at least not for me. I like a good clean signal, good bass control and proper timbre, but for the latter to be true there has to be meat-on-the-bones (for my taste anyway).
the professor
Well-known member
I haven't heard the Deviate with D3s but I have with D1s and D5s and it sounded amazing for the money.
Hi Ian,
I've never had the opportunity to hear the M-Projects, so I would only be guessing about the pairing with Soulution. I've heard several people say that they loved the 701 / Q7 pairing but I think it's really a matter of personal taste. I currently also own Revel Salon 2's and ran them for a few months with the 501's. Now, I know the Salon 2's are not as transparent or resolving as the M-Projects but they probably are nearly as neutral in frequency response. The 501 / Salon 2 combo had wonderful timbral purity and was quite musical but the overall presentation was a little cool and lacking something, in my opinion. The Salon 2 had much better synergy with the warmth of the XA-100.5 and XA-100.8 and lacked nothing, in my opinion. Matter of fact, it was outstanding.
Not at all looking to spend your money but have you checked out the XS-150? I bet it would be a heavenly pairing with the M-Projects.
Best,
Ken
KeithR
Active member
Hi Ian,
I've never had the opportunity to hear the M-Projects, so I would only be guessing about the pairing with Soulution. I've heard several people say that they loved the 701 / Q7 pairing but I think it's really a matter of personal taste. I currently also own Revel Salon 2's and ran them for a few months with the 501's. Now, I know the Salon 2's are not as transparent or resolving as the M-Projects but they probably are nearly as neutral in frequency response. The 501 / Salon 2 combo had wonderful timbral purity and was quite musical but the overall presentation was a little cool and lacking something, in my opinion. The Salon 2 had much better synergy with the warmth of the XA-100.5 and XA-100.8 and lacked nothing, in my opinion. Matter of fact, it was outstanding.
Not at all looking to spend your money but have you checked out the XS-150? I bet it would be a heavenly pairing.
Best,
Ken
Thanks Ken for the detailed opinion. Amp/speaker synergy is extremely important.
Kuoppis
New member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2015
- Messages
- 5,203
well apparently a Devialet is as good as a 100k Soulution stack, so you're better off trying one of them
i find Soulution dry and not particularly dynamic. but i have not heard the MK2 or what not they recently released. did you like Magico w/ Spectral at Goodwins? if you did, you would probably enjoy Soulution. Its not for me.
That is a bold statement indeed.
Not commenting on the Solutions, but have to agree with the earlier statement in the chain that no Devialet would be anywhere on my 'best of' list either, due to their dryness.
Have you owned one? Dryness is definitely not a characteristic of the Devialet IMO.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Kuoppis
New member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2015
- Messages
- 5,203
Hi Mike,
Owned - no, listened to quite a bit - yes. Was considering the D-Premier once, but never fell in love. Very good amps though.
There are however a lots of Magico owners who do love to pair them e.g. with their S5's.
Regards,
Kuoppis
PS: As it is a European made product, the Devialet hype cycle hit its zenith on the old continent already 24 months ago.
D-Premier by itself was good. D400 - a whole new level.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Kuoppis
New member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2015
- Messages
- 5,203
The last one I heard was the 170, was already an improvement over the D-Premier. The 400 I have not heard, kind of went another way.
I think at a certain level it is a bit of a simplification to talk about good or bad. What you get is different characteristics and then you have to pick according to your preferences.
madfloyd
New member
Hi Ian,
I've never had the opportunity to hear the M-Projects, so I would only be guessing about the pairing with Soulution. I've heard several people say that they loved the 701 / Q7 pairing but I think it's really a matter of personal taste. I currently also own Revel Salon 2's and ran them for a few months with the 501's. Now, I know the Salon 2's are not as transparent or resolving as the M-Projects but they probably are nearly as neutral in frequency response. The 501 / Salon 2 combo had wonderful timbral purity and was quite musical but the overall presentation was a little cool and lacking something, in my opinion. The Salon 2 had much better synergy with the warmth of the XA-100.5 and XA-100.8 and lacked nothing, in my opinion. Matter of fact, it was outstanding.
Not at all looking to spend your money but have you checked out the XS-150? I bet it would be a heavenly pairing with the M-Projects.
Best,
Ken
You can choose to not believe this (and I wouldn't blame you), but I am told by a pretty knowledgeable and trustworthy source that the XS-150 is not as good as the 160.8... there are only 2 Pass amps that are better - the 200.8 and the XS-300.
I guess there are folks that like their sound ultra-dry. I personally wouldn't want an overly dry amp to mate with Magicos. My 160.8 is already a bit too dry for my taste (although the 160.5 swings too much in the other direction).
Ian - I had the 100.8 in my system and I've heard the 160.8. Don't believe what you hear. The 100.8 and 160.8 are fine amps, but the XS150 is a whole 'nother league. Friends who have XA.8's moved to the XS150's after bringing their amps to my house to compare.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
madfloyd
New member
Perhaps the 100.8 is nowhere as good as the 160.8. My source (not Nelson but close) tells me that every person who has compared the 160.8 and the XS-150 chose the former regardless of price. Ask Nelson his thoughts; he should confirm.
I did when I was in the same boat. He told me the 160.8 is 85% of the XS150's. There are things the separate PSU bring to the table. My experience agrees. The 160.8 is more neutral. The XS150 is oh so sweet, with better, deeper bass.
Look, Pass doesn't build a bad amplifier. They are ALL excellent products. But there is really something special about the XS150's. https://passlabs.com/images/uploads/manual/pass_xs_brochure_2014.pdf
Speaking of Pass, I'm hearing a lot of great buzz about their new Pass 60 integrated. But that's for another thread....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
madfloyd
New member
Interesting that we hear conflicting reports. I was told the 160.8 is more detailed and has better bass control along with a couple other traits that I can't recall. I was literally talked out of buying the XS-150.
I still want a better amp, but now that I know that most of the typical Magico matches are dry sounding, my search is also coming up dry. Maybe I'll discover something at Axpona...
The opposite of dry is McIntosh! [emoji3]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi Ian,
Maybe Reno Hi Fi could arrange a home demo of the XS-150 for you. I would trust your own ears only on this because your preferences sometimes run different from the rest of the crowd (i.e. XS-Pre vs. XP-30). You'll only know for sure if you bring them in your room with the M-Projects. The reason I suggest this is because we already know that you like the Pass Labs sonic signature. From most accounts I've heard, the XS-150 are significantly better than any amp in the Point 8 Series. Of course, your opinion is the only one that matters.
All the best,
Ken