Pass Labs Aleph 4 Amplifiers

Pass Labs Aleph 4 Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

100 Watt Stereo Power Amplifier (1998-1999)

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 13  
[May 08, 2000]
dave
Audiophile

Strength:

Open,very tight lower end,bloom around the instruments,works extremely well with british speakers

Weakness:

Damn ugly,and could heat up a basement in winter

If you ever needed one affordable solid state amp in your life time this would definitely be it.Surpasses all the acodlates that audio magazines wrote.Brings all the positive aspects of tube ampification mixed with the control of solidstate equipment.This baby is a keeper....


P.S combine this amp with a very reveiling speakers(preferably British) and your're in audio heaven.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston,Krell,Coda...

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 23, 1999]
Gary Gendel
Audiophile

Strength:

clean, effortless sound. Drives almost any load.

Weakness:

High heat producer. Relatively large.

I always believed that once the distortion measures got small enough, one amp would sound the same as another. The Alpha 4 proved me wrong. I heard better definition and a much more effortless sound from my homebrew (time and phase aligned) speakers than I had ever thought possible. Initially I thought the high end was missing based on the extreme smoothness of the vocals. But further listening and measurements convinced me it was a more accurate reproduction. Since purchasing the Alpha 4, I've built a hybrid ESL-T/L speaker pair to replace my previous design (see http://pluto.njcc.com/~genashor/Speaker for pix). It drives the reactive ESLs without a hint of struggling. I'm still in awe listening after a few months... it's like listening to much of my vinyl for the first time. The main drawback of the Alpha 4 is the heat it dissipates. When on, it get uncomfortable to touch. I've had to keep it out of my custom cabinets for fear of it overheating. The 1 hour warmup time is usually not a problem for me, since I usually set aside a few hours when I listen seriously anyway.

Similar Products Used:

Leech, Krell, Bryston, AR.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 13, 2001]
Jonathan Spratt
Audiophile

Strength:

Extremely tight melodic bass, valve-like warmth & palpable presence, build quality, completely grain-free presentation

Weakness:

idles at 500 watts & 55 degrees! 1-2 hour warm up time

2-stage (push only) designed pure class A gives a sound emphasising all the benefits of valve & transistor lineages without their drawbacks etc - electronic genetic engineering! Big black cube with 2 inch fins - I've had winter dinner guests huddle around it and warm their hands thinking it to be a storage heater! Needs fork-lift truck to move. No more harsh white noise electronic highs - this is the end of the power amp trail until component failure. Was reasonably priced in UK.

Associated equipment:
Sugden Masterclass CD into Kimber KS1130 balanced
Pass Aleph P pre amp into JPS balanced superconductor
Kimber BiFocal XL into ProAc Future 2's
JPS PowerAC & JPS Digital AC & Kimber PowerKords


Similar Products Used:

Krell 300i, Arcam 10/10P

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 28, 1998]
David
an Audiophile

Simply the best Amp I've ever heard... or not "heard".

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Jul 05, 1998]
Jeff K
an Audio Enthusiast

I bought this on a friends recomendation. I have been using a pair of Levinson amps. I am truly shocked and joyed at what a improvment this amp is. It is clean and pure and dosnt have any edge to it. I think its a bit expensive considering its a stereo amp of 100 watts, but, Im not returning it either.One negative, it takes about an hour to sound its best. BIG DEAL!
I have been in the music industry for almost 20 years and I am rarley suprised. This was a great suprise. Im also buying the matching pre-amp this week.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Jul 21, 1998]
Kyle
an Audio Enthusiast

Just got this amp last month... The best Ive ever heard, much better then my krell gear which Im now selling. I was concerned it was only 100 watts, but it sounds more dynamic and clean then the krell which was 250 watts.
also own:
Proac 4
Krell pre (changing to a Pass pre)
Krell CD
Dynalab 101
all Alpha-Core cables

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Nov 02, 1998]
Jon
an Audiophile

You know at this price range i would think you would want more power than 100 watts. WRONG! oh and by the way it, it kills the krell

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Dec 14, 1998]
TJ
an Audiophile

I just bought this Amp a few weeks ago and my jaw has continued to drop as the amp has continued to sound better through it's burn-in period.
I don't know how it can get better than this! It doesn't sound exactly like tubes, but the warmth and palpable presence is there. It doesn't sound exactly like solid state, although the dynamics, speed and bass control is definately there.

It doesn't sound like anything else I have ever heard except for the live performance. It sounds like...MUSIC!!!

I'm sure there will be a music dictionary some day, that when you look up the terms, transparancy, rhythm, speed, dynamics, ultra-high resolution, incredible and awesome, It will say..."see the Pass Aleph 4 amplifier!"

Thank you Nelson Pass for bringing the live performance into my home and renewing my passion for listening.

This Amp is better than 5 stars! It is in a class all of it's own!!!

Signed,
Sleep deprived and loving it!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Jan 31, 1999]
Bill Sands
an Audiophile

Listen and say its not the best youve ever heard!!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Oct 04, 1999]
Zoran
an Audio Enthusiast

Wanted !!!I listen Pass Aleph 4. I really impress with that sound. Can anyone send me Electrical Schemes for this.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
Showing 1-10 of 13  

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