Pass Then vs. Pass Now

So many years ago, I bought a Threshold power amp, and it was an 'S' series, maybe 400 model? The point that I will make here is that even back then, I was surprised to see how ancient it looked with old brown carbon resistors, thin circuit boards, and more. To me it really looked used. I mention this because in some newer equipment, I see thick circuit boards metal film resistors and the electrolytic capacitors have come a ways since the cave days. No doubt there is equipment built in the past that was great then and now, but I didn't find that to be the case in the Threshold amp that I had.

 I wish that I could speak to the more recent products designed by Mr. Pass, but the only power amp of his design that I owned and loved was a Forte' model 3 which quite the opposite inside from the Threshold. Then again it quite a few years newer so there is that. 

 The Pass products that I have seen recently have good quality in places (I am now referring to some of his kits) but not so much when it comes to the chassis. Not bad at all, but certainly not built like a Krell either. His consumer products I have not seen to get even an idea of the build quality.

 I am not saying that any one of these products sound good or bad, but I am just as interested in the build quality as the sound. I know, a rare combination.

@4krowme you had me at the Pass kit to Krell comparison. 
 

 I am not saying that any one of these products sound good or bad, but I am just as interested in the build quality as the sound. I know, a rare combination.

You clearly have internet because you posted here…so Google is your friend…or whatever search engine you prefer. 

Wow. You are right... about the chassis. I will just keep googling until someone shows the guts inside. I've seen some pretty sorrowful crap inside a beautiful chassis, but I am betting that Nelson does way better than that. 

audphile1,

 Excellent response, thank you. Nothing is perfect, and in spite of the intent, the camera moves around too much to get a really focused look at certain things. I know, I am being picky. 

 Like I said earlier, the chassis is really impressive (especially the binding posts attached to the chassis!). I would want to build like this if I had the money. Making of such a chassis out of sight. Internally, it is interesting to see that it does remind me in some ways of my Forte' 3. Now this is a personal thing, but I never really did accept the use of ribbon cables, even though much of the idea is spot on. It is not the cable so much as the connectors. Unless they have a really good grip, intermittent problems can arise. Again, a thing with me but there are several Bourns pots in terms of quality that are available, and they are identical just looking at them. It was one of the problems in my Forte' before I rebuilt it. 

 So, since I have never owned an actual Pass Labs product (yet I have built a few of their kits), I cannot speak to the sound at all. My personal experience is that the Threshold power amp that I owned wasn't my thing, the next three Forte' products that I owned were absolutely great, and if I could, I would very much like to hear what these products actually sound like. They do have a great following. 

 Again, I do appreciate the video.