I think this will
be a fair comparison:
Same system other than the amp.
(Speakers are Sonus Faber Seraphino).
I have had
a Pass Labs X-250.8 (class AB) for the last year or so.
A couple of
moths ago I could try at home a pair of Pass labs XA-60.8 monoblocks. Same
manufacturer and not very different price.
I thought
that if the X250.8 delivers it’s first 16 watts in class A and it never leaves class
A, then I was good to go, Pass class A all the time.
BUT BIAS (current,
ampers) of class A in the XA-60.8 are 3 times higher than in X-250.8
Does it
matter? Well, I sold my 250 and I couldn’t be happier now with the XA-60.8s
Better timbre,
overtones, layers, soundstage …
Same brand,
not very different price and for me it makes a hell of a difference.
I’m not
trying to argue, just contribute to the community with my recent experience.