Musicality, warmth

i didn't find any

This is a very musical amp. Warm, liquid, natural and clear sound. However, your speakers must be sensitive enough because this amp has only 30 Watts.
I use the Aleph3 with the ProAc Supertower speakers which have a sensitivity of >89dB and this amp really sounds like 100 watts with this speakers, it can be really loud!
Very impressive is the 3-dimensionality of the sound the amp produces, it has a great soundstage and depth.
The amp reveals every flaw on bad recordings, very precise.
So be aware, that some of your discs don't sound good anymore with this amp...
The highs and the midrange is superb, the bass is slim but well defined and precise again. Be aware again, if there is no bass on the recording, the Aleph3 will not add anything, what goes in, comes out. This amp just tells the truth, nothing is added and nothing is coloured.
Testing different cables with this amp is a treat, you can easily hear the differences.
I am using Nordost Blue Heaven interconnects, and Kimber 8LPC speaker cables. I made the experience that the Aleph3 seems to like Kimber speaker cables.

My other components are:

- Musical Fidelity NuVista Preamp (5 Stars, too!!)
- Krell DSP CD Player

Wholeheartly 5 Stars for this fine piece of HiFi!!

Incredible transparency, very quick, musically honest amp

being very picky- will not play incredibly loud (as if that is needed)

I bought my Aleph 3 in a roundabout fashion. I have been in the perpetual upgrade phase of my audiophile disease for several years now and was searching for my final amplifier. I purchased a used Threshold T200 (100/ch pure Class A amp- S'phile Class A a few yrs back)a week prior to purchasing the Aleph 3. Unfortunately UPS trashed it cosmetically and I had sold my previous amp. I had considerd the Aleph 3 prior to purchasing the T200, but was afraid of its low power rating (30 watts). I loved the T 200 and had thought my amp search was over. I returned the damaged product and was quite upset about the whole deal. What good fortune it was. I purchased an Aleph 3 and it arrived 2 days later. Pure magic. It is transparent like nothing I have ever heard. It is very fast and its low end belies its 30 watt rating. the highs are truly to die for. Never have I been so excited about a piece of audio equipment. i listen to predominately acoustics, female vocals, mellow alternative music, piano (Fiona Apple, Milla Jovovich, Annie Lennox, Dave Matthews, Keb Mo, etc.) This amp was such a quantum leap past even the T200 I found it nearly implausible. And at a retail price barely half that of the T200 and around that of the Acurus, it was all the better. Surprisingly the little 30 watt amp is faster than the T200 and the Araagon with snare drums and the like. Piano sounds much more like a piano. Fiona Apples voice is as it was in a small venue I saw her in 3 yrs ago. All the harshness of the Aragon is gone. It is hard to quantify the purity and clarity of vocals with this amp, they are just so good. The low end is suprisingly quick and full. In all but the highest of volumes of Jethro Tull and Dr Dre (just to test it out), it was fast and resonant to my chest wall as well as most of the pictures and furniture in my home. It played well with volumes much higher than any neighbor would tolerate if my nearest wasn't several hundred yards away. I can't say enough good things about this amp, just listen to it and you will love it. I would be cautious if you have electrostatics or other very inefficient speakers, as it could be a problem. I am driving a pair of B&W Matrix 804s (89db)without any problems. I think you will need to have speakers at least this sensitive to be really happy. My associated equipment is

Magnum Dynalab FT-11 tuner
Muse Model 5 transport
Illuminati D-60 digital cable
EAD 7000 Mk III D/A
Kimber KCAG XLR
Muse Model 3 pre
Nordost Red Dawn RCA
Aleph 3
Nordost Red Dawn speaker cable
B&W Matrix 804s
Various way too expensive power cords
Counterpoint PAC 5 conditioner
API Power Wedge IV-A conditioner

To sum up, I have never been so overwhelmed by a product in my many years in this hobby. I am staying in this weekend to enjoy my music. Wow!

Similar Products Used:

Threshold T 200, Aragon 8008ST, Threshold S 150 MKII

flawless sound

none.

The reviews of this amp give you an idea of what the pass experience is all about. People have a sense of awe about music that they never had before class a came there way.I love playing this little amp for friends and watching thier jaws drop. And then the rapt attention begins as they hear music like never before. I find it to be the best amp I've ever heard.Why it's not more widely known outside of audiophile circles is a mystery to me.Efficient speakers apparently make this amp do it's best work. PSB bronze at 92db sensativety are fantastic. ah!tube cdp,b&k pt3 pre amp,alph3 amp,psb bronze,dual vintage ulm turtable.

Similar Products Used:

blah blah

Smooth and tonally colorful.

WAY too smooth. Glossed over fine detail. A real bore.

Borrowed on demonstration from Walrus Systems, London.
Used with Mark Levinson No. 39, AvantGarde Uno horn hybrid loudspeakers (100db/w efficiency - should be an ideal match).
Sound was smoothed over and boring, the lowest level of information was completely lost.
The only HiFi review that I have seen that mentions these problems is the UK's HiFI+ magazine.
Like Stereophile, I would create a new class of amp classification for the Aleph 3, only mine would be a Z, not A+ !!
Beware of this amp !!

Similar Products Used:

Proceed AMP2, Jadis JA80, EAR 509/2 ......

Crisp sound yet warm (also due to tube pre-amp), exellent imaging,

None on my system

This is the best amp in this price range if you like crystal clear sound that comes out of just nothingness. The single-ended design pushed the sound from a complete silence to your ears with such an airy sound and detail, it's hard to believe that the speakers actually move the air so smoothly.

I've read that people have problems with slim base - well, 30 Watts/Channel Stereo is really not intended to drive HUGE speakers. The VR-3's are perfect for this work horse that sits there and waits for any kind of music. I mostly listen to Techno/Trance/House, Classical, Jazz, not much Rock anymore - which is what most complaints come from.

I can recommend this amp to anyone! Especially for the mid- and high-range drivers in a bi-amped/wired system and for a 5.1 surround system, it's an ideal cornerstone to have the actor speak directly into your ear.


Configuration:
Pass Aleph 3
Preamp: Melos SHA-1
Speakers: Von Scheikert VR-3
CD: Denon CD player.