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Speaker suggestions - Pass XA30.5 $3500

Hi all, I've been with Thiel for about 10 years and think I'm ready to try something new. I've got a Pass INT-30A, listen only to digital sources (PS Audio PWDII), and want speakers that image well and can periodically support a loud dance session. Looking at speakers that go for around $3500 used.

I listen to a wide range of music (e.g., Electronic, Pop, Rock, Jazz, and female vocalists) and am open to a variety of speaker designs.

Also, the Pass is probably more powerful than you think. Stereophile measured it as clipping at 135W @ 8 ohms and 295W @ 4 ohms. I preferred it pretty soundly to the X-250.5 on my Thiel 2.4s.

I have a medium sized living room that takes up the entire width of the house when you come in the front door. It's 15' x 21' with 8' ceilings (on a slab) and the stereo (attached to a TV) is on one half of the long wall. The room's a bit unbalanced in that way, but unfortunately that's the only setup option.

Thanks for your suggestions.

- Chris
128x128cal3713
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
I sold AP for over 8 years of time. They make fine speakers.
But in the world of highend audio a wide and deep stage is
what makes highend audio thrilling. This part is not the best
of AP.

The Pl-200 is superior in speed and has a much wider and
deeper stage. Beside this instruments and voices are a lot
more physical apparent.

These days I sell 3 dimensional sound. I outperform all other
shops in audio all the time. That is how I work. At the end
the best and most convincing sound in audio always wins. That
is why I keep it simple and clear!
keithr
1,306 posts
 
Zu Soul Superfly or Supreme
loomisjohnson
1,949 posts
 
heard the pass auditioned with dynaudio contour--sounded awfully good
oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
Cal
I cant speak for the different versions. Bo indicated he has more experience. The Caldera II was a late 90's version that got a lot of great reviews when it came out and was noted for its sound stage and presence. The later version did not fair as well (Caldera III) but when i was evaluating my purchase, many people who had owned or still owned the 3 box set of Caldera speakers all echoed the quality of these speakers in their experience. I also understand that since the founder (Joachim Gerhard) left, the newer speaker designs are not loved as some of his earlier lines. I also consulted Nelson Pass concerning what amps would match up with these speakers and he clearly said i would be pleased with the 30.5 or 8. I was looking at one of his first watt products before his comments. He was familar with the audio physics line and said he often talked to Joachim in days past
bblilikoi's avatar
bblilikoi
99 posts
 
Pass Labs tests their amps using Tannoy speakers, specifically Tannoy HPDs, 15‰ with 2‰ coax tweet, Imperial cabinets turned upside down. I just visited and heard an impressive demo at the home of one of the owners who said each one of their testers, including Nelson Pass, uses the same system for consistency. His current amps were the XA-160.8 monos, but he confirmed that the XA-30.8 has the same topology and outputs power up to the levels Bo1972 says your XA-30.5 does. Great boogie.

I imagine if you're patient, you'll find a good pair of Tannoys in your price range soon.

Good luck.
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