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BAT vs Pass Labs Amp

I have been around audio long enough to know better than to ask "what is a better amp;" however I would like some opinions on wattage. I am hoping to buy a new amp in the next few months and am hooked on tube gear. I'm interested in BAT's VK75 amp or Pass x250 amp. I am using monitor speakers and expect to go back to floor standing speakers when space allows which brings me to my question. Is BAT's 75 watts enough to push any speaker out there or could that be an issue when I change speakers? I've always wanted to own a BAT amp and a Pass amp so I could go either way but don't want to limit my speaker choice when that time comes. This will be the amp that I keep forever (yeah right!!).

Thanks for the help.

m-
mdomnick
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
If U know U R going to change speakers why buy the amp now?
Traditional wisdom is to get the source and speakers right and then worry about synergestic amplification and cabling.
Buying too much amp has its drawbacks just like buying too little (or too warm for the rest of the system, or not warm enough, or etc. etc. etc.).

Other thing, if you are going big tube power you need to listen to the ASL Hurricane and Rogues and the big CJ. The more cost effective options are sometimes also the best sounding options, depending on your system and preferences.
mdomnick OP
332 posts
 
all were helpful answers; thanks very much.
biomimetic
252 posts
 
Although the Pass is a solid state amp, the basic layout and design is very similar to a single ended, zero feedback tube amp like the Cary 805's for instance.
akaddict
51 posts
 

I just got the vk-75se (which is supposed to have better bass than vk-75) and I have no experience with the Pass, so maybe this comment isn't relevant.

Two major points about the 75se: astonishingly powerful bass (I unhooked the subwoofer and won't put it back) and how loud it plays (100+ dB with the VK-5i knob at 55, and Piega P-10s hooked to the 4/6 ohm tap).

FYI, another current thread in the amp/pream section compares BAT ss and tubes.

Good luck.
jwin's avatar
jwin
101 posts
 
Sean, I'd take a listen to the new Pass Labs X.5 series before I'd dismiss the amps on the basis of their design. No, they will not provide the decay characteristics of the most tube like sounding tube amps, but they are quite comparable to some of the more nuetral sounding tube amps like Audio Research.
Jeff
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