Pass Labs Point 8 Series info

stranger things have happened...especially in the world of audio.

Price concerns? C'mon. Several of these models have been absolute bargains for years, with the price staying exactly the same for who knows how many years. Yet parts, labor, rent, etc. for all companies has been going up. So, finally a price increase, which could be justified for the product with no improvements based on how long the price was frozen, and it's a concern?

Compared to how they sound, are supported, and are built, relative to the competition many of the .5 models are absolute bargains, and would be at the new pricing.

I don't sell them, I don't make them, so I have no vested interest. But I use them and usually laugh when friends bring over some of the higher priced spreads for comparison.

As for the above comment "Constrict supply = raise price. Economics.", I don't think that is fair when directed toward Pass or other "good guy" companies who have never shown any inclination toward that behavior, like Pass, Vandersteen, Magnepan, Quicksilver, DeVore, to name a few.

Kiddman's post is spot-on and well said.

Hi Kiddman,
I would be one of the last to ever accuse Pass of any unfair practices. On the contrary, based on my admittedly limited experience with them, I am very impressed and agree they do seem to be a "good guy" companies.

I just pointed out that when dealing with a limited supply of parts, raising the price is one way to make the old parts last longer. In my book, that's fair and just sound economics. (of course, as long as it is done in a practical way and not "gouging," which is a different thing that what we are talking about here).

In fact I believe the current new prices have this built in already, so I wouldn't expect them to raise prices much in the future.

However, to call any $10,000 amplifier (fundamentally based on quite old and basic consumer electronics technology) a "bargain" borders on the ridiculous. I'm looking at the big picture.

Re: my "bargain" statement, I will firmly stand behind it. Everything is about context. When we are talking about this level of equipment, the context is the performance level and build quality of Pass relative to other high end equipment of similar sonic and overall quality. In this context it does look like a bargain. Let's take the 350.5. Tremendous power, yet sonic quality that significantly more expensive and less powerful amps have a hard time approaching.

Either the Pass is a bargain, relatively, or much of the competition is ridiculously overpriced. Half full or half empty. I'm not interested in semantic debates. I think you knew from where I was coming without this clarification.

If the amp is based on what you consider "old and basic consumer electronics technology" then I'm assuming you have a high level of expertise in electrical engineering. And if the word "bargain" is "ridiculous" then you must know about costs and profit structures of manufacturing. I would guess you should be able to come up with better at a significantly lower price, and if you do I'll call it an "uberbargain".