T.H.E. Show 2023

Pathos Gets All Dressed Up for Klipsch

Jason Victor Serinus  |  Jun 16, 2023

Upscale Audio saved one of its finest lookers, the Pathos InPol Legacy 100Wpc class-A integrated amplifier ($49,995), for Klipsch Klipschorn AK6 loudspeakers ($16,448/pair) and a REL Acoustics 212/SX subwoofer ($4999).

The InPol Legacy seemed quite happy paired up with the AK6—the two sang beautifully together—but the 212/SX must have taken too strong a dose of testosterone before joining in on the date.

I quite enjoyed the fine clarity and lively top on a Red Book file of Lauren Dawes's "Stormy Monday." Ditto for Ray Brown and Laurindo Almeida's "Mondscheinsonate/Round About Midnight." Everything sounded nice, clear, and enticing until Ray Brown descended toward the bottom of his instrument's range and the subwoofer woofed almost as loudly as my three terrier companions.

An Aurender N200 streamer ($6300) sent signal to the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3 ($11,995) with help from the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB Interface ($2275), and an AudioQuest Niagara 5000 power conditioner ($5900) and Cardas Audio cabling completed the chain.

COMMENTS
georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on June 17, 2023 - 6:52pm

What these very efficient speakers need, is only 25w into 8ohm, but that amp need to be able to double that wattage for every halving of impedance (eg: one that has big current)
eg: 8ohm-25w 4ohm-50w 2ohm-100w, 1ohm-200w (Like these below)
And these are perfect, pure 25w only into 8ohms at Class-a monoblocks can do that current also. Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblocks
https://ibb.co/NTP1ygn

Cheers George

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 18, 2023 - 11:54am

... a 1 ohm load. Likewise, it had an output current capability of about 8A - not enough for even 100W into 1 ohm, let alone 200W.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on June 19, 2023 - 2:30pm

As said above it was eg:

https://audio-database.com/MARK_LEVINSON/amp/ml-2l-e.html

And I tested the 1ohm and it came close to doubling the 2ohm wattage. So these ML-2 monoblocks low wattage powerhouse are in the same company as other BJT (bi-polar) current masters, Gryphon/Krell/D'Agostino
etc etc

Cheers George

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 19, 2023 - 10:37pm

... an Accuphase A-300, which has output ratings of 8ohm-125W, 4ohm-250W, 2ohm-500W and 1ohm-1000W.
What are the 1ohm power ratings of the Gryphon, Krell and D'Agostino amps you reference?

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on June 21, 2023 - 12:30pm

To be at their best, they only need low wattage Class-A type amps, but ones that can give good current into low impedances (wattage doubling).

25w pure class-A into 8ohm is plenty, and for where they dip in impedance it's good the ML-2 can give even higher to almost 200w if needed. They are the perfect amp for them.

Cheers George

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