Pass Integrated to Pass separates

Anyone seen a review of the new Point 8 series? I am curious how the XA 100.8 compares to the 100.5

There is a tread about the .8 series here at Audiogon.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1393354920&openmine&zzBo1972&4&5#Bo1972

I asked Pass Labs about reviews of the .8 series about 5 weeks ago. They said; not in short time.

My X250.5 will be here on Friday and I'm already having second thoughts. Everything I read says that the XA's are better at any power rating period. Is there anyone that has an X.5 and prefers it over the XA.5's?

I have a demo period so I can always exchange if I don't care for the sound... I'm just thinking that I compromised to get more of what I already have instead of something truly better.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated! I have a lot of money on the line here and want to ensure I'm not missing out by saving a few dollars!

If you go back in my answers you wil find my thoughts about it.

The Purist Audio Limited Edition 2013 version had a very big positive influence on the X250.5.

I owned the XA30.5, 60.5 and 100.5 and thought I would prefer the XA series over the X series.

But......how I use it the X.5 series has some advantages over the XA series. This is faster response, more drive and more spatial in the high freq. You need a high quality cable to maintain the involment in the mid freq and the authority in the high freq. A cheaper powercable will give you a clear disadvantage in the mid freq. and high freq. This is why many people prefer the XA series over the X series. I had the same thoughts. But by testing my thoughts changed. I had these discussions with Pass Labs.

The Purist brings new parts which are not there compared to a basic power cable.

I will go this year for the X350.8 instead the XA100.8.

By using the Purist it is like you double the quality in endresult. You have to try it to believe it.

Powercables have a huge influence on poweramps and sources as well.

Yeah, it all comes back to me now. I bought the X250.5 based on all of the positive hype from pro reviews as well as users. As I have stated before, it was a huge disappointment. I bought it from an Audiogon member, and had it thouroughly gone over by Nelson himself (great guy and great company). With 4 different speakers, it sounded thin and analytical, the opposite of what I was expecting. Looking back at all of the reading I was doing at the time about the amp, so many users, like Bo1972 were talking about aftermarket cords quite a bit, as if there was something about the sound that needed to be fixed.
I want to note that I ran it in single ended mode, and used the recommended pins in the proper position that are placed in the XLR inputs when they are not being used. The only thing that I can think of to explain the poor sound of the amp in my system with 4 different speakers as well as 3 different cables is that it prefers to be run in balanced mode.
I will be interested to see what your experience is.