Thiel Owners

Well after reading everything I can lay my hands on relating to Pass I had pretty much decided on a pair of XA60.8’s. That is until I spoke again to Mark at Reno Hifi and Kent at Pass who BOTH steered me away from the XA series and toward an X150.8. This was not a "gentle" steering that was a rather opinionated steering toward the X series. I’ve never had a retailer before talk me out of spending $10K in favor spending $5K but that what Reno did and also what Kent at Pass did. NOW, I like the idea of a slightly softer, highly dimensional liquid tube like sound and that’s why I was considering the XA series. But both Kent and Mark seemed to think that the X series was the better match for Thiels. I’m a little stunned but I think I’m going to follow their advice and try an X150.8. Anyone else with opinions on the matter please chime in. They did clarify one thing: that if you DO go with the XA series they both though the 60.8 would be right amp in the series for Thiel 2.4s. In the X series, they favored the X150.8.  I realize all this sounds quite odd because most of you are saying just LISTEN and see what you like best.  Well there's no Pass dealer within even a reasonable driving distance of Atlanta so that's not possible.  Yes I COULD order both an x150.8 and a pair of XA 60.8s and return the ones I don't like but we're talking $200 in shipping for each amp, each way so that ads up in a hurray.  Still..... might actually do it.

pwhinson...

I also did business with Mark at Reno on two X150.5 amps and to say that he runs a class operation is an understatement. 

At the time I had a pair of CS3.5’s. (the amps were purchased at different times)  Like the first time I heard my first Thiels (2.2) I barely returned to my listening position before I went “wow.”

From top to bottom that amp just clutched the music in a way no previous amp had managed to; although I forget which preamp I had at that time it was a tube preamp.  The 3.5’s had a new lease on life in so many ways. (yes, I employed the bass eq at all times)

i have not heard the X150.8 but I’m sure it’s a fine match.  

Enjoy!

Robin -  Yes, the SmartSubs are Class D. Jim began working on those amps with a very talented designer at/from Vifa in the late 80s. They put quite a bit of sophistication into those designs, which were done in the early dark ages of Class D. Impedance requirements are less of an issue when the entire amp-speaker is modeled  in toto. I use a single SS1 and a pair of SS2s in my studio and love them. I am searching for a good repair solution for them.

I have heard that Jim considered Class D suitable only for bass due to inherent topology constraints. But, a lot has advanced more recently. I have heard recent pro-audio class D amps, and I would not consider such for my music use, just because, no real experience, but an inclination toward a topology with more inherent wow. I am intrigued by what PS is doing (thank you ronkent) . . . a tube input before a mosfet output stage seems potentially great. 

Regarding Pass, Nelson is a brilliant designer in my opinion. Pass and Thiel shared equipment and insights beginning in the late 70s. I would expect Kent's opinion about synergy to be extremely well-informed.