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Conrad Johnson 350 vs Pass Labs X amp

I have a CJ 17LS preamp, CJ Premier 11A power amp and Quad 989 speakers. I'm planning on upgrading the power amp and was thinking of the CJ 350. I don't need 350 wpc but I'm attracted to it because people are saying its the best amp CJ have yet made - even better than the 140. However I've also been reading very good things about Pass Labs amps and was wondering about the X150.5. Has anybody compared the 350 and the X150.5?
PS. You may say I should be comparing the X350.5 with the CJ but as I understand it the only difference in the X amps is the power output, and as I said I don't need 350 wpc.
iansr
calanctus
151 posts
 
"The only difference in the X amps is the power output"--there's a little more to it. The ones with more power also have more Class A power--which is what you want for best sound, having less distortion and a richer tonal palette.

From what I read here, the X350.5 is considered by Pass to be their best-sounding implementation of the '.5' upgrade.
david12
1,454 posts
 
I think both Pass and CJ are great and do'nt think you can go wrong with either. I use a CJ Premier 17 with a Pass Aleph 3, a very different beast than the X150, but it sounds great. All the reviews of the CJ 350 in the UK have been very complimentary. I heard it with the ACT and Avalon Eidolons at the recent UK Hi-Fi show and to me it was the best sound in the show by far
iansr's avatar
iansr OP
11 posts
 
Calanctus
I take your point on the level of available Class A, thanks.
iansr's avatar
iansr OP
11 posts
 
OK, it seems that nobody out there has compared these two amps, so has anybody got anything to say about about either of them on their own merits?
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