Hi Folks
We have oft debated the merits of one amp versus another but, like Gordon, I am considering getting MBLs possibly as a second system. My main system is ML Summits. As I started investigating MBL speakers, its hard not to miss the MBL amplifiers...
Surprisingly, I couldn't find too much discussion on this forum on the relative merits of MBL amps versus the forum favorite - Pass Labs. James with his all-MBL system appears to be one of the few MBL amp afficionados.
The MBL entry level amp, the 8011, is more expensive even compared to Pass Labs X350.5 while the MBL 9 series are 3x to 10x that! For a roughly similar street value (~$8-9k/pair), the 8011 monoblocks deliver 310W at 4 ohm (the same as an X 150.5) while the Pass x350.5 delivers 700W at 4 ohms. I get the whole "all watts are not equal" argument but this is Pass we're talking about! What does MBL do with their amps to command a 2-3 X premium over other hi-end gear like Pass for a similar Class A/B Solid State design? And the Pass almost certainly delivers more Class A watts (~50) before switching to A/B.
Highly transparent speakers such as CLX, Summits or MBL 111/116's should clearly play out the differences between these amps. Have any PassLabs veterans compared the X250.5/350.5 with MBL 8011, 9007, 9008, 9011 series amplifiers and if so, what did you find?
What about the Pass INT-150 versus the MBL 7008 integrated, where again the Pass is 300W versus 200w for the MBL (at 4 ohms), yet the MBL is more expensive?
thanks for your insights
adanny
We have oft debated the merits of one amp versus another but, like Gordon, I am considering getting MBLs possibly as a second system. My main system is ML Summits. As I started investigating MBL speakers, its hard not to miss the MBL amplifiers...
Surprisingly, I couldn't find too much discussion on this forum on the relative merits of MBL amps versus the forum favorite - Pass Labs. James with his all-MBL system appears to be one of the few MBL amp afficionados.
The MBL entry level amp, the 8011, is more expensive even compared to Pass Labs X350.5 while the MBL 9 series are 3x to 10x that! For a roughly similar street value (~$8-9k/pair), the 8011 monoblocks deliver 310W at 4 ohm (the same as an X 150.5) while the Pass x350.5 delivers 700W at 4 ohms. I get the whole "all watts are not equal" argument but this is Pass we're talking about! What does MBL do with their amps to command a 2-3 X premium over other hi-end gear like Pass for a similar Class A/B Solid State design? And the Pass almost certainly delivers more Class A watts (~50) before switching to A/B.
Highly transparent speakers such as CLX, Summits or MBL 111/116's should clearly play out the differences between these amps. Have any PassLabs veterans compared the X250.5/350.5 with MBL 8011, 9007, 9008, 9011 series amplifiers and if so, what did you find?
What about the Pass INT-150 versus the MBL 7008 integrated, where again the Pass is 300W versus 200w for the MBL (at 4 ohms), yet the MBL is more expensive?
thanks for your insights
adanny