I have a large room, similar to yours, using all PSAudio equipment, the new preamp, the new DAC, the new sacd player and the Aspen 30 speakers. I am using the 1200s and they are fine. I have been reading about class A power amps and the reviews have enticed me to purchase a Pass Labs XA60.8. I will be picking these amps up and installing them this weekend. The reviews of the Class A amps suggest that I will love the sound. If, for whatever reason, I am not happy with the Pass amps I will sell them.
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While I do not have Pass Labs gear, I do have the FR20’s with a Levinson amp running in Class A. I know you’re in for a treat. Enjoy!!
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I recently bought the M1200 to replace my Krell TAS 5x200 wpc amp and convert to pure 2 channel audio. That Krell is a beast, rated at 400 wpc into 4 Ohm (using Dynaudio contour S5.4 speakers), but the M1200 brought so much more dynamic punch, better bass reach and definition, as well as plenty of details in the mids and highs. I am very happy. I will say I’m amazed at how more more effortless the bass is even at low listening volume. I used to have to crank the Krell to get the full bass expression from these speakers, but the M1200 is just unfazed by these speakers. The Maggies will likely act similarly, I used to own a pair of SMG (baby maggies). Good luck!!
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Welcome aboard Spiderman! Nice intro.
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I’m also considering upgrading my Dynaudio Contour S5.4 to the FR20s. The S5.4 is a little bright (I love the incredible detail though) and the freq response is a little lumpy/bumpy at least in room. May I ask what speakers you ran prior to the FR20s? What was your upgrade experience?
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Welcome!
I don’t know if you already made some acoustical improvements to your room, but you might consider that. It would benefit both your current experience and your future, once you decide to upgrade to the FR20.
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Sonist Audio Concerto 4 speakers. The experience with PS Audio was good. The FR20’s arrived via truck, boxes wrapped in bubble wrap and on a wood pallet.
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Very interesting! I see you had ribbon tweeter (/mid?) already? Did the FRs tweeter/mid live up to the high detail but not harsh reputation? BTW, I had similar excellent experience with PS Audio and particularly their customer service (don’t forget Paul!). These people really have it going on.
My Infinity Modulus had a ribbon tweeter. The Sonist speakers a ribbon tweeter, and the FR20, of course flat panel ribbon midrange & tweeter.
The FR20’s are, by far, so much better than the others. It’s not even close. Much cleaner, way more open, imaging is fantastic, and the more you improve your gear, the happier the FR20’s are (or the happier I am, lol).
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Nice and probably appropriate advice! Well, I have cloth sofas on each side, a low pile area rug, lots of furniture in the corners, and cloth blinds on one side, need I say more? But I do feel like there is some self-inflicted sibilance here bouncing off the front walls - even with the TV and artwork mounted there. In the 6-8k range the white noise seems to show about a +4 db bump. That’s what I meant by “bumpy”, but it could be my fault, not the Dynaudio…. hmmm.
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It’s odd to have such a relative HF bump in the type of room you describe.
Did you try some damping at those first reflection points, if only experimental?
My end game was always going to be M1200s but thanks all for the confirmation that I’m on the right upgrade path. I’ll pick them up when everyone upgrades to PMG amps 
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I picked up the Pass Labs amps with 60 watts of Class A amp. I am now in my second weekend of using them. They are now burned in to the point where the system (all PSAudio, new dac, preamp, and sacd player feeding the Aspen 30 speakers) now sounds the way the reviewers of the Pass described. Every instrument including human voice is heard with a bit more heft and weight. Bass is exceptional. The impression is of more air around instruments and voice. I have no idea what keeping the Pass Labs in the system will cost in electricity. But I cannot imagine giving up what the 60 Watts of Class A, 120 into 4 ohms speakers has added to the sonic presentation.
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Well congratulations, seems to me , you made the right decision. How “fine” are your m1200 in comparison.
I love the 1200s. The 1200s put more energy in the uppermost frequencies than do the Pass Labs. But, now, the
overall presentation is that the Pass Labs brings it closer to what one hears in a live music presentation. Paul’s next new
top of the line power amp will have more Class A. But he is going to have to charge $40-50k for his pair of amps.
I believe that I now have close to what he is looking to achieve. I got a very good buy on the XA60.8 at $8500.
A no brainer. My 1200s will probably go to my Florida apt. where I have the Aspen 10s.
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I looked up the Pass Labs, they also look great. 8500$ is indeed a good deal. I can pick up the M1200 in the Netherlands for less than 4000Euro. I’m going there in 3 weeks. Still some thinking to do.
It all depends on what you are looking for.The 1200s are wonderful amps. and you should be very happy with them. Good luck!
Coming to the end of a second weekend of listening with the Pass Labs XA 60.8 power amps.
I’ve started to listen to my favorite SACD set of Shostakovich symphonies. It is time to revise one of my earlier descriptive remarks, namely that the Pass Labs are somewhat rolled off at the top. I read this in one of the reviews of the amps. I am no longer hearing this roll off at the upper end. Now the entire range from lowest bass to upper most treble when listening to the Pass Labs amps compared to the PS Audio 1200 is not only equal to and actually surpasses the latter in bringing the sound closer to what one would hear in a concert hall. The Pass Labs XA 60.8 is an extraordinary set of amps. Prior to purchase I was concerned that a 60 watt amp would be inadequate in my large listening space: 25 x 40 with a 13 ft. ceiling. The 60.8 doubles to 120 with 4 Ohm speakers, which is true of the Aspen 30 speakers. This setup is truly a setup providing a sonic presentation made in heaven, and must rival systems with electronics costing multiples of what I have here. I believe that I may be hearing what Paul is hoping to achieve with the new 100watt class A amps to come. Please take note all.
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