After some research, I decided to go for a direct power amp hook-up to Bartok. I visited several audio stores and one had a 10ish years old Pass X600 mono blocks linked to Vimberg tonda D and I was literally blown away. Any Macintoshs I demoed didn’ t match its transparent and detailed sound from high to low frequencies.
Now in my living room reside Bartok apex + Pass X600 + YG Sonja 2.2i, which I feel more realistically sounding then Vimberg Tonda D.
It proves that good old amps still rule!
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Congrats Simon! Nelson Pass knows a thing or two about amp design. I’ve always admired his amps, never owned one myself though. Wish you many hours of happy listening.
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Congrats, I own Pass also, and would not change. It’s true X600 is old as there were two others version, but it stays excellent. Now you have to try to find a preamp.
Hi, Andrew X600 is really holographic indeed.
It was so impressive that I ordered a new pair of Pass X600.8 black panel to match Rossini apex and YG Vantage 3. Recently bought MBL N51 is to be traded in for Pass. I was lucky the dealer is the same so I do not lose much in N51.
Also a credit goes to you saving me a preamp cost !
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I am not sure if I want a pre amp with Bartok (meaningful preamp will cost a fortune!). Instead the savings from the preamp will go to the second set of Pass in my study room.
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I can understand, and just to share my experience. Have Xa.160.5 with Sasha Daw. Source is Rossini apex with Vivaldi clock. I experienced direct , without preamp, and really not satisfied. Missing a lot of precision, image and lost articulation in low frequencies. But just my experience.
Congrats for .8 you will hear a very big difference.
Hi, JPSPOCK.
Out of curiosity, regarding your experience with X160.5, you mentioned “Missing a lot of precision, image and lost articulation in low frequencies”, and could you tell what amps were compared to X160.5 for aformentioned comments ?
Directly comparing used X600 and new x600.8 will be difficult as X600 is hooked up to Bartok apex and YG Sonja2.2i and X600.8 will be with Rossini apex and YG Vantage 3, and more importantly x600 is in the twice the size of the room of x600.8…
I did with Puccini with xa100.5 than Rossini with xa100.5 and Xa 160.5. For me , a good preamp will bring a structure, an atmosphere during listening. But it is just my opinion. Up to you to do yours, which is the most important.