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"Holy s#!t" moment courtesy of Threshold

tomlinmgt

tomlinmgt

Lunatic Member
It's barley vintage, if at all. But at around twenty five years old it's barely modern. Anyway, test drove a Threshold s-300 (optical bias model) last night. :jawdrop:

Really didn't expect that. I mean, I realize Nelson Pass didn't get his reputation from designing average sounding amplifiers, but this is quite the eye opener. Much more improvement over my dual mono Aragon 8008 than anticipated. The dynamics, scale, detail and dimensionality this amp adds to the presentation is remarkable. The Infinity QLS-1's really came alive.....and when a speaker like the QLS-1 comes alive very, very impressive things happen.

And so a Threshold fanboy is born. :ntwrthy:

Don't think I'll be giving this one back! :D

Yamaha cdc-845>Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-11 (w/Genelex Gold Lion tube and 1.5pc)>Dared SL2000a (w/Brimar tubes)>Threshold S-300 Optical Bias>Infinity QLS-1

- Michael
 

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I own a S/300. Best amp I owned or reviewed, drives about everything, including a pair of Apogees (which I sold last year). Since it's an older map it likes some TLC: some caps need changing, bias might be (re)adjusted etc. But it is well worth it. Enjoy!
 
I have the S/300 series I. It weighs 25,5 kilo according to the manual. The inside looks like this:

2qbapaw.jpg


Underneath the shielding there are two 700 W toroidal transformers. It utilizes 14 transistors per channel and two 60,000 uF powercaps. The 'optical bias' version is a mk. II , although there are mk. II's without optical bias. I'm guessing they will have the same specs.
 
Satch said:
I own a S/300. Best amp I owned or reviewed, drives about everything, including a pair of Apogees (which I sold last year). Since it's an older map it likes some TLC: some caps need changing, bias might be (re)adjusted etc. But it is well worth it. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

I have a set of Acoustat Spectra 22's I'm anxious to try out with the Threshold.
 
Very Nice! I've only recently had a chance to hear one of the Pass designs and have to say I'm very impressed. A friend traded me a non-functional Nakamichi Stasis SR3a receiver. I was able to get it working quickly and tried it with my ADS-910's. Let's just say I'm watching the horizon for more Pass gear.
 
Thanks Evan and Ths364. Though it wasn't a huge concern when I first saw it I thought "what a beautiful face, but that's not going to match any of my other gear". Of course, now that I've heard it none of that really matters, but I do find it more and more attractive every time I look at it.
 
Why don't more amps use opticouplers? :dunno: Obvious advantages.

Interesting fun fact: you adjust the bias by temperature...:yes:

My /200 sounded best after 4 hours of warmup, but it might have been closeted for a while before I got it.

--
 
I concur

I just picked up an S/500II the week before last. I was very impressed by it. It's going to be powering my RS4.5's.
 
Great vintage amp....I've run one with a Tube front end and its great! I've also listened to it an a modern Pass Labs and you can hear the similarities.....only the Pass is much much much better at what they do.
 
Wow! That is very cool! That is the great thing about audio stuff. I will never see everything. There will always be something like this to look forward too.
Rob
 
Man Threshold stuff is amazing! I had an uncle who bought a threshold system in the 90's , also had the big Infinity kappa 9's, man that system was what got me hooked on hi-fi. I have been waiting for the right deal to come my way for a Threshold system, one day the dream will become a reality.

I have been saying this for a couple of years but mid 90's esoterica is the best deal in audio right now. its not really old enough for the vintage crowd and not new enough for the modern guys but is ripe for the picking. congrats on your new amp!!
 
Susurus said:
My /200 sounded best after 4 hours of warmup, but it might have been closeted for a while before I got it.
Click to expand...

It might be time for some TLC. The usermanual states that 'In addition your amplifier now incorporates dual bias circuits that obviate any "warm-up" period.' So your S/200 might be in need of some new caps etc.

For those interested, I have the universal schematics for the Threshold S-series from november 1989. Just send me a PM if you need it. :yes:
 
Awesome gear! So what if it doesn't match anything else. You'll always look at it and think WOW!
 
Funny, I had one too the other night when I heard the second Trapeze album "Medusa" on the Threshold label for the first time:yes:
 
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