[Canadian411]

  Black vegans with  G O L D 
 

beautiful !

 

[preproman]

  Black vegans with  G O L D 
 

 
 
I want....

 

[NZtechfreak]

So preproman, have we actually heard how the INT 150 is with the 6? I've been keeping an eye out, wondering if I missed your feedback?

 

[shayson1357]

yes preproman, comparisons please 

 

[Dopaminer]

   
 
I want....

You shall have.  Check mail.  
 
And for me, this just arrived by courier : 
 

 

 

[preproman]

SWEET​

 
 
The Pass Labs INT-150 is one sweet sounding amp.  First I have to really give take my hats off to the Master 10.  It held it's own against an amp that cost twice as much.  
 
Both amps has more than enough juice, both grab the HE-6 by the balls and tell it what to do.  In other words both amps drive the HE-6 effortlessly.  
 
The Pass Labs does just about everything at a level above the Master 10, some things it does 2 or 3 levels above.  The one thing the Master 10 does better or should I say different is the mids.  The mids on the Master 10 is what I would call lush, the mids on the 150 is what I would call SWEET.  On some vocals tracks I prefer the Master 10 but on some others I prefer the 150.  For the mids it came down to 6 in one hand and a half dozen in the other.  The 150 mids are more in line with everything els / more linear, more clean, more focused.  The mids on the F1J is more flat and straight to the point.
 
Master 10 --> INT-150 --> F1J
INT-150 --> Master 10 --> F1J
 
The Pass Labs INT-150 like the First Watt F1J is a very clean, clear and honest amp that has good air and is open sounding.  The Master 10 is not as open, has less air but just as clean and clear.  Still to this day I would say the First Watt F1J is the most neutral amp I've heard both speaker and headphone amps..  The INT-150 is more sweet sounding, the Master 10 is more warm.  I was told by Mark the INT-30 is more on the warm side as well with a more relaxing sound sig.  (I wasn't looking for a relaxing sound sig - that's why I went with the 150).
 
Most neutral
F1J --> INT-150 --> Master 10
 
Where the 150 leaves the Master 10 in the dust is the highs.  The highs on the 150 is much like the highs on the F1J, we'll extended, very well rendered and very fast.  Those amps can keep up with any kind of music you throw at it. The F1J can be just a tad bit bright at times if you stick the wrong DAC on it, that's because of it's extremely neutral signature.  The Master 10 is just a tad bit slow with large scale classical music - I only noticed this when I compared the two amps side by side, before that the Master 10 was doing a really good job.  None of these amp produce any kind of sibilance.
 
INT-150 --> F1J --> Master 10
 
The bass on the 150 kicks like a mule and can punch like Mike Tyson.  This is even a step above the F1J.  The Master 10 lacks behind both in this area.  I was always saying I want to try a Saber DAC with the Master 10 to get some punch or get more attack.  The INT-150 gives me that in spades.  
 
INT-150 --> F1J --> Master 10
 
The Master 10 is a very intimate amp, so it's sound stage is not as wide, it has good depth but it still has an intimate nature and is more smooth textured .  The INT-150 has a more open soundstage, more focused on the instruments has more dynamics from low volume to high.  the Master 10 takes it easy going from low volumes to high.
 
INT-150 = F1J --> Master 10
 
All amps retrieve details at a very high level.  The details are more apparent on the INT-150 and the F1J but you are not missing a thing on the Master 10
 
To sum it up the INT-150 and the F1J is more clean sounding, the Master 10 is more lush, the INT-150 is more Sweet, the F1J is more neutral.  
 
The main difference between the INT-150 and the F1J is the INT-150 is more rich, more sweet / musical the F1J is neutral. You can tell both are from the same family.  They just have slight differences here and there.  
 
This is my final stop for the HE-6.  It's been a long and fun ride, but I think I've found my end game amp for this headphone.  I just hope it fits the HE-1000 as good as it does the HE-6.  
 
Oh and with other headphones.  The INT-150 sound mighty good with the LCD-3F and the HD800 what a surprise.  The Master 10 sound really good with the HD800 (I sold my EC 445 because the Master 10 beat it out handily),   but it's not so good with the LCD-3F a little to thick for me.

 

[ohhgourami]

Nice review! Good to hear you enjoy the amp.
 
How is it in terms of staging? The most important aspects to me these days is imaging and staging.

 

[jelt2359]

 

And with that post, I noticed your signature has changed, too! Is a gear adjustment about to take place?

 

[preproman]

  Nice review! Good to hear you enjoy the amp.
 
How is it in terms of staging? The most important aspects to me these days is imaging and staging

 
Better than the Master 10, more focused.  I think Nelson Pass stuff images pretty good. Separates and picks out instrument very well. The staging on the INT-150 presents a good center stage right above the forehead.  

 

[preproman]

  And with that post, I noticed your signature has changed, too! Is a gear adjustment about to take place?

I'm down to 1 amp and 1 DAC for now.  After I send my DAC in for the upgrade - when every they get the upgrade ready.   Then I may try to get 1 stax amp and a DAC next.  My first Stax venture failed two years ago..

 

[ohhgourami]

   
Better than the Master 10, more focused.  I think Nelson Pass stuff images pretty good. Separates and picks out instrument very well. The staging on the INT-150 presents a good center stage right above the forehead.  

Let me rephrase my question. How real does the music sound? My Krell is so damn 3D, I get completely lost in the music. Solid, right there!

 

[gjc11028]

[COLOR=0000FF]SWEET[/COLOR]

Oh and with other headphones.  The INT-150 sound mighty good with the LCD-3F and the HD800 what a surprise.  The Master 10 sound really good with the HD800 (I sold my EC 445 because the Master 10 beat it out handily),   but it's not so good with the LCD-3F a little to thick for me.
​

Nice review. I might have thought the pass would be a bit lean for the HD800?​

 

[preproman]

 
Let me rephrase my question. How real does the music sound? My Krell is so damn 3D, I get completely lost in the music. Solid, right there!

 
Oh yes.  I know exactly what you mean.  It sounds so sweet - just a tad bit warm and it sucks you right in.  Non fatiguing and has a holographic projection of the music, more of a stereoscopic 3 dimensional sound that enhances the depth perception of the stage.
 
 
Quote:

Nice review. I might have thought the pass would be a bit lean for the HD800?

Nope - the other way around.  It fits them like a glove.  The EC 445 a tube amp was to lean.  It was a really nice amp and maybe that's the nature of the tube, but I didn't like it at all.
 
The INT-150 leans more on the warm side compared to most amps, but not as warm as the Master 10.  It has more of a sweet sound.  

 

[Wil]

 
Audio Gd Ref 10.32 - > Almarro 318B - > HE6
 
time to get some after market cables for the HE6.....

 

[Dopaminer]

 
 
Audio Gd Ref 10.32 - > Almarro 318B - > HE6
 
time to get some after market cables for the HE6.....

That Almarro is beautiful !   If I were you, I would get some after market pads, before the cable . . .