Which Pre-Amp?

Which Pre-Amp w/Pass XA-30.8

  • Ayre K-5xe MP (Incumbent)

    Votes: 8 38.1%

  • Aesthetix Calypso (Non-Signature)

    Votes: 6 28.6%

  • Pass XP-10

    Votes: 7 33.3%
  • Total voters
    21
Hi Chris,

What, if anything, don't you like about your Ayre? That's my pick.
 
Chris - interesting choices. My first reaction was the Aesthetix, but the XA30.8 has such a low noise floor, not sure you want to introduce any hint of tube noise.

Would a Classe CP800 be out of the question? ARC also works well with Pass.

I really like the XP20, but I know that's a bit of a stretch, so I would have to say the XP10.
 
Joe, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Ayre. I've always been a tube guy...save for a few SS experiments, which I didn't warm to (no pun intended). I had an ARC LS-15, and had planned to move right up the ARC chain; 25 mkI (in order to stay with a 6922-based circuit), or go 6H30-based with a 26 or 27.

With the new Pass...many expressed a nice synergy, with their sibling pre-amps. I was leery, because they're SS; but as it turns out...I was browsing some reviews, and came across a stellar one on the Ayre. As it happens, there was one available at a decent price; and I decided to try it.

So...why not leave well enough alone? Uh...do I really have to answer that, here? :happy:

So...even though I like the Ayre just fine; I just wanted to get opinions, if an XP-10 (now that I see, what a quality SS pre-amp can do...which in the Ayre's case, is be dead-a$$ quiet, while still warm-ish and musical) is still likely to be a better match.

Oh...and the Aesthetix Calypso, is also very well-received and popular; and it would be a step back toward tubes. :audiophile:
 
Mike said:
Chris - interesting choices. My first reaction was the Aesthetix, but the XA30.8 has such a low noise floor, not sure you want to introduce any hint of tube noise.

Would a Classe CP800 be out of the question? ARC also works well with Pass.

I really like the XP20, but I know that's a bit of a stretch, so I would have to say the XP10.
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I love my CP 800, I know I sound like a fanboy,and I am, but it simply can't be beat unless you want to spend a LOT more money.

I think it's the single best piece of gear Classe' has ever made.
 
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Hi Chris,

My experience with the Calypso and how dead quiet it is must be different than others' experience that claim they are noisy....even with the factory supplied tubes it's got a great low noise floor. NOS choices allow tube rolling to season the sound too.

Something I like about the Aesthetix Calypso is the flexibility of it's input and output "duplications" in SE and Balanced modes:

Inputs: 5 line RCA or XLR (balanced), plus 1 tape, RCA or XLR
Outputs: 2 RCA (SE) and XLR (balanced), 1 tape RCA

Plus, it looks pretty. :)
 
MDP said:
I love my CP 800, I know I sound like a fanboy,and I am, but it simply can't be beat unless you want to spend a LOT more money.

I think it's the single best piece of gear Classe' has ever made.
Click to expand...

Not really a Classé fan, but the CP800 is a nice unit and makes sense to me.
 
Thanks for the feedback so far guys. I think the problem here, is that there really isn't a dog in the bunch :)

Likely 3 great units, IMO; and so recommendations and votes, are pretty split and even.

Let me change the narrative a bit: when I noted that the Ayre K-5xe MP was the "incumbent"...it's because it will get the fighting chance to stay. Unless I'm really dissatisfied with a piece...I don't move it, and just assume the next thing will be better; and I'm far from dissatisfied with the Ayre. So there's a shoot-out to be had.

So I guess the real question is...if you were going to bring in a challenger; would it be the Aesthetix or Pass?

OT1H...my first inclination is to try a Calypso, because it's different; and can get me back to tubes. If...tubes "work" with the XA-30.8.

See, that's where some of the hand-wringing comes from. A) I'm a damn audiophile :rolleyes: B) I've always been a tube into "SS" guy (class A/B or D). That synergy, was easy to define: glass for body and warmth; clean SS muscle, for power, control, and dynamics.

But the class-A Pass is different IMO. It's already got some body and warmth to its signature. So...is "clean", quiet SS on the pre side the way to go; and if so, Ayre or Pass. Or...can I keep some sweet, sweet glass in the equation; without making things too syrupy.

I know; RPP right.
 
I vote ARC if you go tubes and Pass for SS. This is what the boys at Pass advised me when I bought a Ref 10 to feed my XA200.5. ARC and Pass is a wonderful thing. Given the Tube-like sound of Nelson's Class A amps and the points you made in the above post about how you feel about the new .8, I would watch for a used XP-20. I bet you would love it!
 
I vote Pass for the synergy with your Pass amp. However, I run a BAT VK 51se preamp with my Pass X250 amp and love the combo. I previously had a Pass X1 preamp which can't compete with the BAT. The BAT has better dynamics, bass punch, musicality, much more depth and a much better midrange.

I also like the ARC LS-27 but much prefer the dynamics and midrange of the BAT. The ARC has more transparency though.
 
I'd be concerned with the match/mismatch of the output impedance of the tube preamp and input impedance of the solid-state amplifier. Get that wrong and good bye dynamics and low end.
 
the Calypso has high output impedance- no go for Pass.

look for fully balanced tube preamps- will tend to have lower output impedance. ARC, BAT, VTL, off the top of my head.
 
KeithR said:
the Calypso has high output impedance- no go for Pass.

look for fully balanced tube preamps- will tend to have lower output impedance. ARC, BAT, VTL, off the top of my head.
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The latest cj (100 ohms) preamps work well with SS amps too. Have used the GAT with the Cello amps and now with the Audia Flight amps.
 
I have an Ayre preamp, and can't hear noise even with my ear to the speaker. ..yes even with the phono switched in, and volume wide open I hear a bit of hisss but no hum at all.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
I'd be concerned with the match/mismatch of the output impedance of the tube preamp and input impedance of the solid-state amplifier. Get that wrong and good bye dynamics and low end.
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That's why I went straight to Nelson's team for a reference when I bought Ref 10. They like ARC/Pass synergy and impedance match. For SS I agree with Pass/Pass; hard to beat.
 
FlexibleAudio....I have always maintained that the end user gets more out of a component by having the other components by the same design team. I have all Ayre, and I if I were you, I would think Pass.
 
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