Mcintosh mc601 vs Pass Labs XA 100.8

01-25-15: Miketuason
"I think your MC601 is a much better amp than the pass Labs"

I guess you didn't compare them both? You are taking nonsense.

I think you need to comprae them before you can judge. The 100.8 is full class A. Beside this it build the stage differently.

I autioned many Mcintosh amps during shows and at shops. It has a very involving sound. But in my personal opinion Pass Lbas brings you closer to the music. I never had a felling that I wanted to buy a Mcintosh myself. It is not bad, but it misses that special touch I want and need.

Pass labs is expeptional in allthe layers of the mid freq. This is the most important part of an amp.

Just look for an audition and you will find out which one you prefer!

Pass 100.8 is much better better bass definition, more dynamic,better stage width and depth.

Sorry if you've already read this in some other posts, but I have some experience comparing these two brands (but not the models, so YMMV). I compared the MC402 to Pass Labs x250.5 and xa30.5. On my Thiel 2.4s the Pass amps easily outclassed the similarly priced Mcintosh. The 402 had been used by the previous owners of my 2.4s, and he'd loved it, so it could be enjoyable, but both Pass amps had more of everything Bo mentioned. I eventually settled on the XA model, as it was the more natural of the two Pass amps on my speakers.

too bad the dynaudios aren't bi-ampable. you would put the Macs on the bass and the Pass Labs on the mids/highs.

Bi-amping with different amps is not that easy to get it perfectly ballanced. I would not go for that.

I invite many of my clients to take a listen to my set at home. Because this is the easiest way to explain all different parts which need to be there for the absolute sound. In most situations there is always a part missing. So I invite them so that they can listen wha is missing. This works very effective.

Audio is my world, and I test on and on. It never stops. You need to test every single tool separately. You need to know each property it owns. For me it is very easy to understand the difference between a Mcintosh and Pass labs. I cab get all properties out of a Pass labs amp. I can garantee you that I can outperform any Mcintosch with it. Even for free I would not want a Mcintosh. Most people here at Audiogon do not have this level of insight. So I understand why the buy a Mcintosh.

When people of audioshops would be able to get all properties out of a Pass Labs amp they would sell a lot less Mcintosh amps. It depends on the right focus and knowledge!!