need your help on this one.....

Watts are over-rated in my opinion, unless you have an extremely large room, highly inefficient speakers and like to play LOUD.  Current, quality of parts, design and build quality should play a larger role in your decision process.    

Pass and Plinius are both very reputable.  

I believe the SA 301 is class AB... so I'd recommend the SA-102 or SA 250 which is biased for Class A and has a toggle switch to run in AB.. but I strongly preferred running the SA-102 in class A when I owned one about a decade ago.

Pass has an excellent reputation, stronger name recognition and may have better resale value.

yes, pdreher  I play my music loud, have large, hungery, somewhat inefficient speakers, in a large room, alon IV's.  I thought the pass x250.8 was class ab.......

I have owned both the SA-103 which is  class A, A/B switchable and the SB-301 class A/B. I you like big dynamic sound especially with less than efficient speakers, go with the SB-301. It offers a much punchier and defined bass and overall more control in my opinion than the SA-103. I'm driving Legacy Focus 20/20's and get huge sound from the SB-301. There is an article somewhere that states, power is everything. I really believe that reserve power is important for defined transient response. I cannot speak to the Pass line.

thanks falcon for your reponse.....and yes I do like a dynamic sound with great sonics and sound staging.  what kind of preamp do you recommend with the sb 301, I have Conrad Johnson gear now. 

I would go with the Pass 350.8 great products and company. No experience with Plinius although I have heard they are a very good company. And as someone mentioned above Pass will more likely hold its value better and be easier to flip if you decide to move on. You can contact Mark at Reno Hi-FI and take advantage of an in home trial; no affiliation.

I have Pass xa100.5’s with a Pass XP-20 and they are excellent performers.

Chuck