Buy the Pass just because.

However, it's not a wise policy to buy equipment you cannot audition.

Yo,

My review of the Pass INT-150 will be in the January issue of 'phile. It may help you in your decision if you can wait for January to roll around.

I only know the Ayre amps in a casual way but my guess is the amps you are considering sound quite different from one another.

Unless you listen quite loudly, I would suggest the INT30A or XA30.5 might be a sweeter match with your B&W's.

I am also currently auditioning the Plinius SA-103 for a review. I would try to listen to the Haito as I am quite smitten with the SA-103 so far.

IMHO, you've made yourself a nice short list. If you are willing to consider tubes, check out the Rogue monoblocks (M150 or M180)or thier larger integrateds.

Shopping is fun!

Thanks guys - after speaking to the dealer I am now thinking of the Ayre K-5xemp and the MX-R combo. Cannot afford the KX-R. Has anyone tried this the K-5exmp MX-R combo ? I have been told by the dealer that the new mp version is vastly improved over the non-mp version

Sounds like the advice you'd get from a dealer who doesn't have a "non-mp" version in stock. That's not necessarily a problem, dealers don't always carry all products from a company in stock at any one time. They don't want to eat the profit on an old version when the "mk. A-II-supreme" shows up unannounced. Did the dealer ask for a deposit?

No deposit asked. I have dealt with this dealer before so its not an issue. Anyway as far as I know, the price between the Non-Mp and the MP version are the same. So naturally I would opt for the improved MP version.

Will be making a trip in Nov to audition the Ayre and Pass Labs products. Hopefully it will help me decide.

I also have the Ayre C5xe (MP).

I have tried just about every amp and preamp I could get my hands on over the past 10 years in my system, and I can't beat the sound I have now (for the money, at least...).

I am using the Audio Research LS-26 preamp and the Bryston 3B-SST2 amplifier (which, by the way, IS the best-sounding amplifier of ALL of the Bryston products, price notwithstanding). The LS-26 sounds as good as the A-R Reference, in my opinion, and has several added features; a steal at $6000. Building a system around an LS-26 is a wise move; sound to die for.

(Note- the LS-26 is still being sold by dealers, but the factory has discontinued production, apparently. An LS-27 is apparently coming to replace it sometime in the near future)