Pass Int-150 or Int-30A for PMC Speakers?


I have listened to PMC speakers (GB1i, FB1i, OB1i) with various integrated (Bryston B100&135, Simaudio 340i, Krell s300i, NAD M3) and was not closed to being satisfied. So I have decided to splurge a little to get Pass Labs integrated. Has anyone tried Int-150/30A or their amp version (x150.5/XA30.5) with PMC FB1i? What's each combination like?

Seems like many people match OB1i with Int-150 but am curious to hear what PMCs sound like with the Pass Labs Class A setup...

I will be using NAD M51 as DAC.
fiddleronroof
Hi Drubin,

You are right. I am a little out of my mind by playing this guessing-matchin game. I have yet heard The PMCs sounded exactly the way I want them to on one system. I figured since the speakers are capable of the giving me the detail from one system and the tonal texture from another, this speaker can do the job. I know the sound Pass sound, just not on the PMCs. I enjoyed the XA30.5 over the x150.5. I don't remember what speakers I was listening though. So here I am at this guessing-matching game...
Bo1972,
how would you describe the difference between the XA100.5 monos and the X250.5? Is the 250.5 really better than the 100.5???!!!
My friend, do you already own the speakers? If you don't own them yet, and you have not been close to being satisfied with the sound of them in auditions, why are you buying them? They must be a tough speaker to match an amp with? That sounds like a bad idea to me.

If you have them already, I would contact PMC or PMC dealers and get some feedback on integrateds to match with.
The 30a will be about 100x2 in a/b @ 8 and about double that at 4ohms.

If you audition the 30 amplifier and the meter doesn't move, the integrated will perform exactly the same way.

Keep that in mind as well as listening habits....
Do you like it really loud?
If so, you may be better served with the 150......

PS: with the exception of bias circuitry the 2 amps are remarkably alike.
Hi Picfink,

Thank you for the tip on the meter. I never paid attention to that. I think I should pay the Pass dealer and spend more time on the amps.

I don't listen to music loud since I have very young kids in the house. That said, I hope to have all the detail and staging at a not-so-loud level. Like most people, I only crank up the music when I not getting the detail and the staging.

I just read a blog where XA60.5 was used on PMC IB2i. Quite amazing...