Pass Labs Power amps choices

Pass 350.8 has better bass,better,stage and is a little more accurate.I had the amp much better than .5 series.

Thanks ebm.Any other thoughts would be welcome.

very happy with move from X250.5 to X250.8

The Pass Labs point 8 series draws 50% more AC power than the point 5 series, and runs hotter if that matters to you.

My amp never ran that hot and it was open,dynamic with great stage and great bass detail.Enjoy!!

I’ve had no issues with heat or power use either 

I’ve only heard the older Pass X250 and I didn’t think it was anything special. It sounded just like any other high powered SS amp even a little bright at higher volumes. It sounded reasonably decent with a tube preamp sitting in front of it but so did my high powered Adcom amp. I thought Bryston 7B-ST monos sounded better in the same system. I understand the newer .5 and .8 versions are significantly better but are priced higher accordingly.

I am considering the 250.8 over the 250.5 I am  currently using but it is $10,000 CND plus my 250.5. Is the difference in sound worth $10,000 plus  my 250.5?

mitchb - Do I like the 250.8 better than the 250.5. Yes, absolutely. (own the 250.8, have heard the 250.5 in the same system)

Is it 10k CAD plus your 250.5 better? - Likely not. What else would you do with the 10k?

Do you have your "end game speakers"?

What pre-amp?

DAC?

... all about allocation of funds.

Now, do you have a burning itch to have the 250.8 and the 10k isn’t a huge stretch - sure, it’s better (to my ears).

If you get the .5, you will lust after the .8 forever.  Just get it now and never look back.

And if you get the X series youll lust for XA. :D

Read my review of XA200.8 at Dagogo.com 
I discuss the difference sonically between. 5 and .8 series. 
If you don't believe because I am a reviewer,  shame on you!  ;)

I'm thinking that although the 250.8 would be a nice upgrade over the 250.5 that it would not be worth that type of money to do the upgrade. I had my 250.5 repaired a few years ago and it is working nicely. It would take me several years to pay back $10,000 so I will just enjoy my 250.5 as it is. My pre is an X1 which matches nicely to my amp and my speakers are Hales Transcendence 5"s which are nice. I just recently upgraded all my cabling from Cardas Golden Reference to Audio Art Statement interconnects, speaker cables and power cables. The upgrade was nice and I am very pleased with the results. I also upgraded my PS Audio Perfectwave MK II dac to a PS Audio Directstream with Bridge II. I am definitely enjoying my system in a way I never enjoyed it before. The Audio Art Statement cables were a huge upgrade over the Cardas Golden Reference and the power cables are much nicer than the previous cables I had. To be truthful I'm not that itchy to upgrade my 250.5 at this point. I believe the total cable upgrade throughout my system top to bottom was an upgrade I do not regret.

As I understand it the .8’s have a slightly more muscular output with a more tailored harmonic content, on the other hand the .5’s are more harmonically neutral (than the .8's). I believe Pass Labs will still offer .5’s on request.

The XA is where you REALLY want to be IMO.

^Depends on speakers and budget.

Ya that is what I heard from many people that compared X to XA that XA is better in most respects and the build quality is closer to XS.
But X may be useful when more power is needed and maybe better with bass control and dynamics (Kent and Desmond mentioned this).

"I rather take the Hegel H30 over the pass 350.8. Sorry to do this to Nelson but he dropped the ball with the 350.8. I rather own the 350.5. More musicality and sweetness. The Hegel H30 beats both and it does it quite easily. Whatever pass labs is going to do next to replace the .8 series they need to truly think hard and long because I feel that the .8 series was a failure. I’m pretty much mentally retired from the .8 series from pass. Ain’t a d@mn thing I like about it. Luxman 900u mops and sweeps the floor with the 350.8. Actually, the Luxman 900u demolishes the 350.8 in every single area."
- White Camaross

Interesting perspective.

WCSS is having fun, but anyone that bases their purchases on his fun might as well just randomly pick an amp.

I won't get into much other than with zero consistency in anything, it's pretty hard to formulate opinions.

As for the Pass gear, he's actually dead wrong.  Read what Nelson talks about the goals were in the .8 series, and talk to those that have heard and used both.  The vast majority will tell you the .8 is the more musical of the two... But they both have the same DNA.

But that WCSS thread is a mess, he even has his own alter ego handles spread throughout it to hype things he wants to sell, or push his thread.  

That said, dude clearly has some funds to have fun with.

Ya I guess that is my main fascination. To see all the shiny gear. :D
I respect pass labs and what I have heard has been truly amazing. That said would be totally open to comparing to luxman at some point and maybe coda.