Pass Labs INT-60 incoming...

Kuoppis

Kuoppis

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Craved to do something different with the small system in the summerhouse and pulled the trigger on the smaller Pass .8 integrated. Quite excited actually.

I have heard nice things about this particular amp but have not had it in my system yet. It believe it will do well with Harbeth 3PSRs and a REL 7i I am also planning to add.

Should be fun.


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Cool, congratulations. I heard that integrated with Super HL5plus' and was a wonderful warm presentation. I'm sure you will love it.
 
joeinid said:
Cool, congratulations. I heard that integrated with Super HL5plus' and was a wonderful warm presentation. I'm sure you will love it.
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Thanks for sharing Joe, good to hear.

I thought the Pass might be a good fit with Harbeths. I've never owned a Pass before, so I think it's time to see what master Nelson has put together.

Also in Europe the INT-60 has been reviewed rather favorably and is currently ranked among the best integrated amps.

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I had the Harbeths Super HL5 plus and they paired beautifully with the int-60.
Its the only piece of equipment that Mike hasn't been able to talk me into upgrading and I doubt he will for long time. It's beautifully crafted, great heat dissipation sinks and the remote control makes it a joy to use.
 
rbbert said:
Hmmm...;)
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Different regions/ countries definitely have a faible for stuff from their own vicinity. Ever saw What Hi-fi report anything negative about Chord or Naim? Ever heard TAS or Stereophile not liking Maggies or Audio Research? German media being critical about T+A?

So, the Pass INT-60 being reviewed favorably in Europe just emphasizes its class.


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When I click the links in Tapatalk, it always opens the same link not referring to the INT-60 very much?

...in the browser I do get different results though. Thanks!


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The INT-60 arrived today, I'm giving it a quick late nice peek auditioning. First impressions are very good. This is yet another example of system matching vs. just picking components.

Yesterday I did a comparison of the Meitner vs. the Ayre Codex in an all Ayre chain. Conclusion was that while the Codex caught up quite nicely after warming up (being too full sounding and not accurate enough before), the Meitner still had a bit of a leg up due to higher clarity and detail.

Today with the INT-60 (although run with the Ayre KX-5/20 still in the chain as a pre) the Codex was a perfect match. With the Pass' more ethereal top-end vs. the Ayres the little tad of additional warmth in the Codex created a perfect match.

I guess in the summer house it will be even better with the Harbeths, as they are a little less power hungry compared to the Magicos. That said, the INT-60 appears to drive the S3s pretty ok.

The soundstaging and imagng of the Pass is truly exceptional. I'm going to have a lots of fun with this one.


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Kuoppis said:
The INT-60 arrived today, I'm giving it a quick late nice peek auditioning. First impressions are very good. This is yet another example of system matching vs. just picking components.

Yesterday I did a comparison of the Meitner vs. the Ayre Codex in an all Ayre chain. Conclusion was that while the Codex caught up quite nicely after warming up (being too full sounding and not accurate enough before), the Meitner still had a bit of a leg up due to higher clarity and detail.

Today with the INT-60 (although run with the Ayre KX-5/20 still in the chain as a pre) the Codex was a perfect match. With the Pass' more ethereal top-end vs. the Ayres the little tad of additional warmth in the Codex created a perfect match.

I guess in the summer house it will be even better with the Harbeths, as they are a little less power hungry compared to the Magicos. That said, the INT-60 appears to drive the S3s pretty ok.

The soundstaging and imagng of the Pass is truly exceptional. I'm going to have a lots of fun with this one.


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Congrats! What a great integrated. It's always one of the top 3 on my list for recommendations.
 
There is a recommended break-in process for the INT-60. I think it's in the manual.
 
XV-1 said:
Threads without pictures are useless :panic:
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Sure [emoji3].

63b9d14b360a9438e2b2dd645259f5f3.jpg


51e0079a9fc3c60554e3dddedc144519.jpg



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This is quite a nice exercise with the INT-60. The Pass offers great flexibility through the opportunity to include your favorite preamp in the chain.

Ayre KX-5/20: this is quite an intriguing combination. Adding the Ayre Diamond stage to Pass dimensionality, brings out even further details and clarity. It is audible that the pre costs as much as the integrated itself.

Running the pass with its own pre (XP-10): it is very nice, resolving not quite as high as the KX-5/20, but delivering slightly more of the visceral Pass bottom end.

Ayre Codex as Pre/ DAC: Allows for some tuning towards more musicality in case the speakers/ chain demand that. With the musicality some of the resolution is traded in.

So, while the Codex also has the Ayre Diamond stage it is obviously not on the same level as a dedicated hi-end pre. The XP-10 integrated into the INT-60 draws a nice balance between resolution and musicality. In case I would decide to keep the Pass in my main system I might actually run it with the KX-5 as a pre.

In a brief summary so far, I would not have any problem keeping the Pass in my main system and could be very happy with it. I might even look for a Pass power amp. Like the tonality quite a bit.


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Kuoppis said:
This is quite a nice exercise with the INT-60. The Pass offers great flexibility through the opportunity to include your favorite preamp in the chain.

Ayre KX-5/20: this is quite an intriguing combination. Adding the Ayre Diamond stage to Pass dimensionality, brings out even further details and clarity. It is audible that the pre costs as much as the integrated itself.

Running the pass with its own pre (XP-10): it is very nice, resolving not quite as high as the KX-5/20, but delivering slightly more of the visceral Pass bottom end.

Ayre Codex as Pre/ DAC: Allows for some tuning towards more musicality in case the speakers/ chain demand that. With the musicality some of the resolution is traded in.

So, while the Codex also has the Ayre Diamond stage it is obviously not on the same level as a dedicated hi-end pre. The XP-10 integrated into the INT-60 draws a nice balance between resolution and musicality. In case I would decide to keep the Pass in my main system I might actually run it with the KX-5 as a pre.

In a brief summary so far, I would not have any problem keeping the Pass in my main system and could be very happy with it. I might even look for a Pass power amp. Like the tonality quite a bit.


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Second that. I love XA30.8 + KX-R (non-20) combo.
 
Today I put back the Ayre to its original place and the INT-60 starts its journey to its final home.

Comparing the two, they are more alike than different. The Pass does maybe a tad more detailed imaging and the Ayre has a bit more pronounced bass and is a tad faster.

But I still like both.


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Kuoppis said:
Today I put back the Ayre to its original place and the INT-60 starts its journey to its final home.

Comparing the two, they are more alike than different. The Pass does maybe a tad more detailed imaging and the Ayre has a bit more pronounced bass and is a tad faster.

But I still like both.


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Very interesting. So you sold the Pass and kept the Ayre?


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Mike said:
Very interesting. So you sold the Pass?


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Nooope! I very much like it (and am keeping the Ayre too). It was from the get go intended for my small system in the summerhouse. It will be a killer combo with the Harbeths. Just a quick stop-over in my main system [emoji3].

I think the INT-60 deserves all the praise it is receiving.
 
Kuoppis said:
Nooope! I very much like it (and am keeping the Ayre too). It was from the get go intended for my small system in the summerhouse. It will be a killer combo with the Harbeths. Just a quick stop-over in my main system [emoji3].

I think the INT-60 deserves all the praise it is receiving.
Click to expand...

Great! I love the Pass INT-60. It's a home run. Ditto for the 250.


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