2. amps-preamps
  3. 192440-73101

Pass XA25 for my system

I have been a long-time lurker here, but never posted until now. I have learned a lot from reading other posts and I thought it would be nice to share details on my current system. Also wondering if anyone has thoughts on switching from Hegel to a Pass XA25 amp.

Current system:

  • Room: 14x19 living room with medium(ish) damping - couch, rug, bookshelves, plants etc.; however, no dedicated room treatments.
  • Sonicorbiter i9 optical Roon server upsampling to DSD128
  • Fiber to Sonore Opicalmodule Deluxe 2 (Sonore LPS with Mundorf Silver/Gold DC cable)
  • Sablon Ethernet 2020
  • Bricasti M3 DAC and Roon endpoint running exclusively via NDSD conversion (3x Isoacoustics Orea)
  • Audioquest Fire XLR cables
  • Linear Tube Audio Microzotl Level 2 preamp with Lundahl balanced transformer input, Ray Reserve and Gold Lion tubes.
  • Iconoclast Series 2 OCC RCA cables
  • Hegel H390 Integrated (using as amp with HT bypass)
  • Audioquest Robin Hood speaker cables
  • Dynaudio Heritage Special (Dynaudio Stand 6 with Isoacoustics Gaia feet) 
  • Power: AQ Niagara 1200, AQ tornado and Cardas power cables.

My system is relatively modest, but was carefully assembled and it sounds pretty great to me. After adding the Microzotl preamp and seeing the improvement, I am thinking of replacing the Hegel (I am not using the preamp or DAC functionality) and trying a new amp. Thinking of the Pass XA25 after reading great reviews and seeing other people matching it with both my speakers and preamp. To be clear, the Hegel has been great and is a good match for my speakers. Dynamics are great, clarity, detail and a very relaxed feel to the sound. It was maybe just a touch too “clean/thin” before the LTA preamp. That move added a little more body, better imaging and soundstaging so curious to see what the Class A XA25 might do to further improve on these areas. The LTA Microzotl also helped with lower level/volume listening allowing more detail and dynamics to come through. With the Hegel volume control, I had to turn things up quite a bit to get things sounding their best. I also tried the Bricasti as a preamp and that was slightly less preferable than using either the Hegel or LTA for volume control.

I am still slightly nervous moving away from the Class A/B sound I am familiar with. Maybe it will soften things a little too much and be a step backwards? I was also considering a slightly used Class A/B Audionet Amp. I have no doubt they make excellent amps but I also couldn’t find many people using that brand and even fewer using it with my preamp and speakers. Any thoughts on whether the Pass XA25 will soften dynamics and transients significantly relative to my Hegel? I found some info. at 6Moons comparing the XA25 to Kinki Class A/B monoblocks and the comments seemed positive albeit a little mixed and unclear.

sfpeloton
sfpeloton OP
19 posts
 

Lot's of thoughtful comments here so thanks to all who chimed in. After reading the comments, I do think the XA25 might be a little too warm for my tastes - even though it may be less warm than some other Pass offerings. 

My room is not very large - 14x19 with pretty standard ceiling height. I really hadn't been too concerned about the XA25 power since it has high current output and is very conservatively rated 50W at 0.01% distortion. However, I do like to turn up the volume some times and I wouldn't want to miss that.

Given the power issues and possible warmth of the XA25, I am leaning towards sticking with Class AB and it sounds like Audionet is one of the best options in that area. I had indeed been eyeing the Amp 1 V2 for sale here. I noticed the input impedance is 37 kohms. I think the LTA is 50 ohms so it should be okay? Any concerns about impedance mismatching or the pairing with the LTA?

sfpeloton OP
19 posts
 

Cbrez, you have a nice system. I remember coming across it at some point and it was one of the reasons I was thinking about the XA25.

I have the Ray Reserve tubes and Gold Lion 12AT7s. I thought they were a nice improvement over the stock tubes, I think they helped tighten up the bottom end and eliminated a small amount of treble glare I noticed with the stock tubes - although to be fair, the amp and tubes were also probably still burning in and settling at that point.

decooney
2,247 posts
 

@cbrez - I ended up purchasing a used Gryphon 120 which does 240 watts into 4 ohms. It was at that moment that I realized the full potential of the Dynaudio Heritage Special speakers. They are fantastic speakers and I just feel they really open up when driven with more power.

 

My former 87db 4ohm Totem Acoustic speakers with the original Dynaudio drivers were very similar in how they responded to the right type of power amplification.

I had tried several different lower power SS and Tube amps with them. Eventually arrived at 200wpc 8ohm / 320wpc 4ohm with a dual mono dual torroidal transformers - A true 75 amp mosfet Class AB solid state amplifier.

The smaller 2-way speakers literally came alive and sounded quite different with a more robust amplifier. Smoother highs, better silky midrange, bottom end was all there. Real iron and current driving them. No subwoofers, not necessary at all.

Like you experienced - it really showed what the speakers were capable of being. All the bases were covered at low, medium, high volume level listening. There was never a need to turn them up, they sounded very nice at low-med levels once they were being driven by this amplifier.

cellorover
426 posts
 

If you think the Xa 25 is warm, take a look at your wires.

ericba's avatar
ericba
56 posts
 

I have the XA25 paired with Harbeth 30.2, 6 ohms 86 db. My room size is 20x12. It is plenty of power and I like to listen to high volume. Class A at high volume is a big plus compared to AB. The XA25 is one of the most transparent amps. It is being used by many reviewers as a reference amp.

You have a great set up and the XA25 is definitely worth a listen. It is keeper for me. I am using Cardas Clear rev1 as the interconnect and a Luna Mauve speaker cables. The sound is very organic and natural. Cable matching based on sound preferences is also an important consideration.

More to discover