R Giskard
Used to work for HAD Audiolab
Previously known as Akatona.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2008
- Posts
- 244
- Likes
- 24
Hi folks!
The moment I have waited for years has finally arrived and Pass Laboratories have just introduced their new headphone amplifier at CES.
Some of you may be familiar with Pass Laboratories. The company was founded by Nelson Pass, a world-renowned audio designer and virtually a legendary contributor to the DIY community. Today, Pass Labs is known for uncompromising approach to design of audio amplifiers, line-level preamplifiers and phono preamplifiers. To put things in perspective, only a handful companies enjoy the reputation of unmistakble audio fidelity, quality of workmanship and ongoing audio research as Pass Labs.
Pass Labs played a major role in the past as well as it does today. Nakamichi used Pass Labs expertise in their highest quality receivers and amplifiers in the 1980s. Sony's introduction of the Super Audio CD standard was reinforced by the "series 1" products and the magnificent amplification was designed by Pass Labs. Sony still uses Pass Labs amplification in their mastering studios. The list goes on.
Early last year, I contacted Mr. Desmond Harrington of Pass Labs to ask whether Pass was considering making a headphone amplifier. Of course, many, many DIY projects by Nelson Pass were already out there but what I had in mind was something commercially-available. At first, Mr. Harrington's reply was negative but he inspired me when he said I should contact him in several months at which point he might have some news for me. Time passed by and I became restless like I always do and just as Mr. Harrington promised, he indeed had some good news for me!
I waited till the amplifier was introduced to the world. It now is so there is no reason for me to share my happiness with the rest of you!
In my latest correspondence, Mr. Harrington kindly forwarded my email to Mr. Jam Somasundram who in turn replied to all of my questions regarding their new headphone amplifier.
These are some of the features of the Pass Labs headphone amplfier:
- Pure class A operation with low feedback
- Discrete circuitry including discrete regulators
- MOS-FET output stage, J-FET input stage
- Custom-built low-noise toroid transformer in Faraday cage
- High quality volume control by Alps
- Two single-ended inputs, relay switchable
- Headphone/preamplifier selectivity
Mr. Somasundram explained that special care has been taken when designing the transformer and power supply in order to achieve the lowest noise floor possible. One of the design criteria was to allow for compatiility with a wide variety of headphones available today. The amplifier is designed to work with loads from 20 to 600 Ohm and is equally capable with modern-day planar-magnetic and more traditional dynamic drivers.
Mr. Harrington says they home to have the amplifier ready by the month of May.
I must add a personal comment here and say Pass Labs amplifiers are highly realistic and convincing -sounding amplifiers. If you desire immediacy without losing the ambience and the atmosphere, then you must listen to Pass Labs. To me, it is the emotional component of the music that they bring out so clearly, so delightfully.
So thank you Pass Labs! I am very happy and I think you will make a good number of people as happy as I am.
Cheers everyone!
Antun
The moment I have waited for years has finally arrived and Pass Laboratories have just introduced their new headphone amplifier at CES.
Some of you may be familiar with Pass Laboratories. The company was founded by Nelson Pass, a world-renowned audio designer and virtually a legendary contributor to the DIY community. Today, Pass Labs is known for uncompromising approach to design of audio amplifiers, line-level preamplifiers and phono preamplifiers. To put things in perspective, only a handful companies enjoy the reputation of unmistakble audio fidelity, quality of workmanship and ongoing audio research as Pass Labs.
Pass Labs played a major role in the past as well as it does today. Nakamichi used Pass Labs expertise in their highest quality receivers and amplifiers in the 1980s. Sony's introduction of the Super Audio CD standard was reinforced by the "series 1" products and the magnificent amplification was designed by Pass Labs. Sony still uses Pass Labs amplification in their mastering studios. The list goes on.
Early last year, I contacted Mr. Desmond Harrington of Pass Labs to ask whether Pass was considering making a headphone amplifier. Of course, many, many DIY projects by Nelson Pass were already out there but what I had in mind was something commercially-available. At first, Mr. Harrington's reply was negative but he inspired me when he said I should contact him in several months at which point he might have some news for me. Time passed by and I became restless like I always do and just as Mr. Harrington promised, he indeed had some good news for me!
I waited till the amplifier was introduced to the world. It now is so there is no reason for me to share my happiness with the rest of you!
In my latest correspondence, Mr. Harrington kindly forwarded my email to Mr. Jam Somasundram who in turn replied to all of my questions regarding their new headphone amplifier.
These are some of the features of the Pass Labs headphone amplfier:
- Pure class A operation with low feedback
- Discrete circuitry including discrete regulators
- MOS-FET output stage, J-FET input stage
- Custom-built low-noise toroid transformer in Faraday cage
- High quality volume control by Alps
- Two single-ended inputs, relay switchable
- Headphone/preamplifier selectivity
Mr. Somasundram explained that special care has been taken when designing the transformer and power supply in order to achieve the lowest noise floor possible. One of the design criteria was to allow for compatiility with a wide variety of headphones available today. The amplifier is designed to work with loads from 20 to 600 Ohm and is equally capable with modern-day planar-magnetic and more traditional dynamic drivers.
Mr. Harrington says they home to have the amplifier ready by the month of May.
I must add a personal comment here and say Pass Labs amplifiers are highly realistic and convincing -sounding amplifiers. If you desire immediacy without losing the ambience and the atmosphere, then you must listen to Pass Labs. To me, it is the emotional component of the music that they bring out so clearly, so delightfully.
So thank you Pass Labs! I am very happy and I think you will make a good number of people as happy as I am.
Cheers everyone!
Antun