Speaker suggestions - Pass XA30.5 $3500

Cal
I cant speak for the different versions. Bo indicated he has more experience. The Caldera II was a late 90's version that got a lot of great reviews when it came out and was noted for its sound stage and presence. The later version did not fair as well (Caldera III) but when i was evaluating my purchase, many people who had owned or still owned the 3 box set of Caldera speakers all echoed the quality of these speakers in their experience. I also understand that since the founder (Joachim Gerhard) left, the newer speaker designs are not loved as some of his earlier lines. I also consulted Nelson Pass concerning what amps would match up with these speakers and he clearly said i would be pleased with the 30.5 or 8. I was looking at one of his first watt products before his comments. He was familar with the audio physics line and said he often talked to Joachim in days past

Pass Labs tests their amps using Tannoy speakers, specifically Tannoy HPDs, 15‰ with 2‰ coax tweet, Imperial cabinets turned upside down. I just visited and heard an impressive demo at the home of one of the owners who said each one of their testers, including Nelson Pass, uses the same system for consistency. His current amps were the XA-160.8 monos, but he confirmed that the XA-30.8 has the same topology and outputs power up to the levels Bo1972 says your XA-30.5 does. Great boogie.

I imagine if you're patient, you'll find a good pair of Tannoys in your price range soon.

Good luck.

I owned the XA100.5, 60.5, 30.5 and X250.5 and next week I
will receive a 2 year old 350.5. I am thinking about the 350.8
later as well in 2015.

Here comes an important note. I used the XA100.5 with Purist
Audio Aqueous powercables with Oyaide 004.

Later I used the X250.5 with the Purist Audio Limited Edition
with F1/M1 from Oyaide.

I got a better articulation of voices with the last set.
Voices became a lot more sounding like the XA100.5 in the mid
freq. I had a better speed. The endresuls were even better
than the first set.

I had a few conversations about this with Pass Labs. Many
people only use a low level of the whole potential of an amp.

Another example: in the last few months I bought 2 sets of
Audioquest Wel Signature XLR cables. These gave me a new level
in listening. Voices and instruments are so much more phycical
and the black level is gone to a new level as well. The other
thing is that you can hear very precise what height does in a
recording.

You can buy a 600.5 (8) or 160.5 (8) with good interconnects
but you still will not have the same level in height and black
as with a much cheaper Pass Labs with stunning cables like the
Wel Signature.

Many people only get only a low level out of their amps what
they are capable of!!

I had a very similar room in which I chose the Dunlavy Cantatas. The nice thing about Dunlavy speakers is that they tend to minimize the negative effects of any room, even really problematic ones where symmetry is virtually impossible. The Cantatas would also benefit from the Pass unit's ability to maximize bass extension which can be really amazing from this design. If you are not familiar with Dunlavy speakers, do a little research to see that they have been out of production for some time, but still have quite a following in the audio community and represent a tremendous value in the used market.

Brauser: Do Dunlavys happen to use "generic" drivers? I'm a little concerned about purchases from defunct companies since there's no way to return the speaker to stock if the a driver fails.