LTA Ultralinear vs Pass Labs XA25

Thanks so much Al. Those Daedalus speakers you have are pretty incredible. The ZOTL 10 that I currently have plays incredibly well at reasonable to low listening levels, it’s the best amp by far that I’ve ever heard on the Salks. I’m hoping that 3db 10watts extra of headroom with the ultralinear is enough to give it that little bit extra. But you’re right in that I should probably call Jim to make sure. LTA specifies that 88db is the limit for critical listening and low volume level listening is 85db. 

Paul I’d love to read the 6moons comparisons between the two. Very interested. 

As an extremely happy owner of the Ultralinear LTA I’d say Pass. The LTA UL was designed specifically to work magic with high efficiency designs like Al’s Ulysses and my Apollo’s. With speakers of this type it is off the charts. But matching amp and speaker are crucial so you would be ignoring this truth with the UL. I’d either go with the Pass or consider the LTA ZOTL 40 Reference, which I understand from Mark Schneider at LTA is now very close to the UL but made for less efficient designs. Maybe try both and see which you prefer. LTA has a very generous return policy.

Thank you very much! I‘m gonna do more research. The Pass is intriguing but it’s not as easily available to audition since their return policy isn’t as good as LTA. I have heard great things but at this point I’m totally addicted to the LTA’s sound. Might take your advice and go with the ZOTL40 ref. 

I am also addicted to the LTA sound. That zotl40 has got to be incredible.