Mcintosh 452 vs Pass Labs XA 30.5

I auditioned them both many times. I did own different XA monos in the past. When I audition the Mcintosh with my own music I always miss depth and width regarding the stage. The diversity in sound with the Pass is a lot better. It reveals also moere layers in the middle frequencies.

You never will see a show where people can hear them both wiht the same amps, sources and cables? This is how silly audio is. At the end it is all about shootout. Most are only interested in their own stuff and will not allow you to compare them.

It would be so much better if they become a lot more open and honest to audio lovers. I wrote it many times when they want to they can imply parameters. But they will not do this. They want audio to staf as fague as possible. So people have no idea about sound and music. It becomes a lot more easy to sell what they want.

They don’t care about the truth and best quality. They only focus on how much money they can make. When they want to give the audio busienss a boast they need to stop with all those lies. And create better products for customers.

Ive owned a Pass int-250, mc9000 and a luxman... The pass was the best when it came to overall sound. I liked the Ma9000 next and the Luxman 509x was crap. Sounded like cheap Yamaha gear to me. I hate the way Pass gear looks (great build but just stupid looking).  That being said I always find myself going back to Mcintosh. I LOVE the way they look, and I also love what they do with the human voice. I listen to allot of music but I also listen to a ton of talk radio and how an amp renders voices is SUPER important to me. Currently running a Schiit Frey + (spectacular preamp) with a Mcintosh mc452 into a set of JBL 4365's. And I love it. 

There are great sounding and well built MacIntosh products and great sounding well built Pass products. Most of the time their owners are great people too. A lot of people own both. But so much of the time these threads end up more about ego and feeling superior vs facts. Too bad. We have so much to learn from each other.

I have a modest pass syetem and have owned older mcintosh. Maybe not a comparison but I find the Pass Adelph 3 and Pass L pre very addictive. Sound just seems to hang in a very holographic way.

I do think Mcintosh and pass lab com out the different sound, they are so different, and someone prefer this one while others prefer that one. There is no right or wrong. I bought  Mcintosh Amp brand new and used for about 7-8 years and go to Audio Research near 30 years ago. I have clear memory about the Mcintosh and maybe later, I will buy  one as second system, THE MAIN POINT IS

I FIND RELEASE IN THE SOUND.

The following is coming from chatGPT and I agree.

Comparing the sound quality of amplifiers, such as those from McIntosh and Pass Labs, is subjective and can depend on personal preferences, the rest of your audio system, and the type of music you enjoy. Both McIntosh and Pass Labs are reputable manufacturers known for producing high-quality audio equipment, but they may have different sonic characteristics.

McIntosh is often recognized for its warm and lush sound signature, with a distinctive visual style and a long heritage in the audio industry. McIntosh amplifiers typically provide a smooth and musical listening experience.

Pass Labs, on the other hand, is known for its focus on transparency, accuracy, and detailed sound reproduction. Pass Labs amplifiers are often praised for their clean and precise audio delivery, making them appealing to audiophiles who prioritize accuracy.

Ultimately, the "better" sound is a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer the characteristic sound of McIntosh, while others may lean towards the precision and transparency of Pass Labs. It's recommended to audition both brands if possible, preferably with your own audio source and speakers, to determine which one aligns better with your preferences and complements the rest of your audio system.