Pass Labs:What to expect fm XA60.5 to XA100.5

Tvad,

Could you please elaborate on your last post? You seem to suggest that all one needs to do is calculate SPL in a room and match the amp to speakers on paper and all will be fine.

The XA100.5 looks as though it has plenty of power to drive my Mini II's. Dealers even said as much. I have a small room and don't listen too loudly. The bias needle moved only slightly and not too often. However, switching to the bigger XA160.5 gave me better sound. I still have the same sized room, don't listen any louder, the needle almost never moves now, but dynamics, scale, staging and control of the lower frequencies are all better. The music is more involving and enjoyable.

Sure it costs more, uses more electricity and generates more heat, but the results are well worth the upgrade cost to me.

Now, the sonic signature of the X.5 is surely different from that of the XA.5 and the OP should hear the difference before committing.

"I was always told all speakers like wattages, the higher the better."

I do think all speakers need enough watts to perform well, the quantity varies with the speaker, room, music, and loudenss preferences. I also know folks like VTL will suggest you need 1,000 watts to really allow speakers to blossom. That being said, I think there is always (almost always?)a loss in quality as watts go up for a specific circuit design, but that can be a fair tradeoff if your speakers need the power, and some speakers do need alot of power, or more importantly current to drive low and dipping impedances. I think that on speakers like mine (Merlin VSM)the XA30.5 (which I did own)will sound better than the XA100.5. But I have know doubt the XA100.5 will sound alot better driving Thiel or B&Ws - they need the power and the current. So the question isn't really which is the better amp, but which is the best amp/speaker combo, and I'm not sure why the XA100 would drive your speakers any better than the XA60s (but they might).

07-13-10: Pubul57
"I was always told all speakers like wattages, the higher the better."

I do think all speakers need enough watts to perform well, the quantity varies with the speaker, room, music, and loudenss preferences. I also know folks like VTL will suggest you need 1,000 watts to really allow speakers to blossom. That being said, I think there is always (almost always?)a loss in quality as watts go up for a specific circuit design, but that can be a fair tradeoff if your speakers need the power, and some speakers do need alot of power, or more importantly current to drive low and dipping impedances. I think that on speakers like mine (Merlin VSM)the XA30.5 (which I did own)will sound better than the XA100.5. But I have know doubt the XA100.5 will sound alot better driving Thiel or B&Ws - they need the power and the current. So the question isn't really which is the better amp, but which is the best amp/speaker combo, and I'm not sure why the XA100 would drive your speakers any better than the XA60s (but they might).

Hi Pubul,

My main dilemma is: Given everything the same(i.e. speaker,room,listening volume, genre of music i listen to, source,etc) except upgrading from XA60.5 to bigger wattage power of XA100.5(higher damping factor of 200,higher output voltage and current too) or X350.5(higher output voltage and current), Should I expect improvement on dynamism, speed/explosive transient to draw closer the gap between Class A or A/B with the Class D that I previously owned.

From what I read from Peterayer's reply, it seem higher wattage model of the XA.5 models does indeed have better overall presentation of sound in the same given speaker(though I am not using the Mini II).

Wonder will there be actually a plateau of overall presentation on sonics quality where a given speaker no longer will/can improve further when using a higher model amplifier of the same brand.

Cheers

Some Pass X.5 owners will have to pipe in here, but for some reason I think the X.5 series might very well be more dynamic than the XA.5 series, but that you will lose some midrange liquidity moving from XA to X - not sure if that is a matter of power differences or circuit design differences. Class A is generally "smoother" and that might (not sure here) be we you notice as reduced "explosiveness" and "transient speed". As far as I can tell, the damping factor differences should not account for much (especially with your speakers).

If I understand your situation correctly you will have the opportunity to listen to both amplifiers. You will have a better chance of making a good decision if you listen to each one without expectations of what they will or won't do. Listening without preconceptions is a good thing.