Double M Posted April 24, 2023 Posted April 24, 2023 I would like some honest opinions about what amplifier to pair the focal 936 speakers with? I am considering either Hegel or Pass labs. I was not sure if I was going to go with separates as in preamp and power amplifier or an integrated amplifier. I was looking at the Hegel H190 or the Pass Labs INT 250. Any thoughts or experiences of these combos would be greatly appreciated.
Neo Posted April 24, 2023 Posted April 24, 2023 Best experience is your own and both choices are of great amplifier manufacturers. But ultimately the preferences reside with you. Find a dealer that stocks both and have a listen, it maybe even worthwhile take a road trip for that. Neo 1
Quark Posted April 24, 2023 Posted April 24, 2023 I haven't heard them together, but the Pass Labs has a modest damping factor of 150 and the Focals are not the easiest to drive - likely to have a flabby bass response together. The Hegel has a damping factor of 4000 and likely to be a better match in tight bass response.
betty boop Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 24/04/2023 at 4:10 PM, Double M said: I would like some honest opinions about what amplifier to pair the focal 936 speakers with? I am considering either Hegel or Pass labs. Expand musical fidelity has always been a great match for focals id be going no less than a m6 integrated if want valves/hybrid check out unison research another fantastic combo i discovered ....
Skeptical Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 24/04/2023 at 11:32 PM, Quark said: I haven't heard them together, but the Pass Labs has a modest damping factor of 150 and the Focals are not the easiest to drive - likely to have a flabby bass response together. The Hegel has a damping factor of 4000 and likely to be a better match in tight bass response. Expand I disagree. I had a pair of 926 and I drove them with a 40 W tube amp with excellent results. Focals are much more cooperative than you might think. I also ran them with 185 WPC SS amp - a Redgum black series, to similar effect. Flabby bass is more likely your room than your amp.
Guest Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 24/04/2023 at 11:32 PM, Quark said: I haven't heard them together, but the Pass Labs has a modest damping factor of 150 and the Focals are not the easiest to drive - likely to have a flabby bass response together. The Hegel has a damping factor of 4000 and likely to be a better match in tight bass response. Expand 150 damping factor is plenty. 4000 damping factor won't provide any audible improvement. There was a long thread discussing damping factor recently. Well worth a look.
Quark Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 7:07 AM, The Mad Scientist said: 150 damping factor is plenty. 4000 damping factor won't provide any audible improvement. There was a long thread discussing damping factor recently. Well worth a look. Expand Having heard another Pass Labs amp with some not too difficult speakers I'd like to differ - plenty of bass but sounded like Rolf Harris on a wobble board.
Guest Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 (edited) That's not a damping factor issue. As has been stated already, bass response is highly room-dependent. The damping factor discussion is worth a read. You might learn some new stuff. It certainly dispels some of the oft-held myths. Edited April 25, 2023 by The Mad Scientist
Quark Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 7:29 AM, The Mad Scientist said: That's not a damping factor issue. As has been stated already, bass response is highly room-dependent. The damping factor discussion is worth a read. You might learn some new stuff. It certainly dispels some of the oft-held myths. Expand Same room and speakers, same day, with a different amp (with high damping factor) the wobble board was gone and the bass was as tight as a drum. No, damping factor can be a real issue.
GregWormald Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 I had a toss-up between a Pass pre and a Simaudio MOON pre and went with the Simaudio due to the reviews (no audition with my speakers was available). It's great and very flexible. In the price ranges you quoted Simaudio MOON has some integrated amps that IMO would be worth considering.
rantan Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 7:34 AM, Quark said: . No, damping factor can be a real issue. Expand You should definitely read the damping factor thread. A DF of 4000 is absolutely not necessary in any way. There must be other factors involved here.
Quark Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 8:02 AM, rantan said: You should definitely read the damping factor thread. A DF of 4000 is absolutely not necessary in any way. There must be other factors involved here. Expand I never said a DF of 4000 was necessary.
betty boop Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 7:19 AM, Quark said: Having heard another Pass Labs amp with some not too difficult speakers I'd like to differ - plenty of bass but sounded like Rolf Harris on a wobble board. Expand if amp and speakers think talking about... i agree as well...not the cleanest and controlled bass from the pass .it was a bit overblown and wooly sounding... 1
Guest Posted April 25, 2023 Posted April 25, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 10:39 AM, betty boop said: if amp and speakers think talking about... i agree as well...not the cleanest and controlled bass from the pass .it was a bit overblown and wooly sounding... Expand As has been said before, this isn't due to a damping factor of "only" 150. There's something else at play with the Pass amp.
betty boop Posted April 26, 2023 Posted April 26, 2023 On 25/04/2023 at 12:34 PM, The Mad Scientist said: As has been said before, this isn't due to a damping factor of "only" 150. There's something else at play with the Pass amp. Expand I don’t think I mentioned anything about damping factor …I take things at face value. The amp is what it is …
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