What are the weak points of Pass amps and pre-amps ?


Though there are perhaps better transistor amps, but Pass seems to be an excellent choice for many.
What is your experience with them, if you could elaborate ? Integrateds as well.
inna
I have not heard all of Pass Labs amps, but from recollection of a few I did owned it’s good but not great.
I had the X350, X350.5, XA100.5, XA160.5, XA160.8, compares to MSB M202, M203, Lamm M2.2 and ARC REF250 and even Bryston 28B3, one would wonders what the hypes was all about.
As you can see, I did fall for the hypes with owning 5 different Pass models.
Not bashing on Pass, I’m sure the XS is a must for class A enthusiast, including myself.

@medwardo - I have the X250.5 driving my sophia 3s and have the itch to move to an all class A. Even though the X250.5 offers the first 25W in class A. I spoke with Pass and they didnt think highly of a move from the 250.5 to the XA30/60.5. They did mention that a move to XA100.5 will be very rewarding and worth the move. Is your XA25 able to drive the Sophias well? They are known to dip well below 2 ohms at low frequencies.
pistha, while you were talking with Pass Labs did you ask them their opinion regarding the XA25 driving your Sophias? I ask because I believe my speakers also dip rather low although I only know their nominal impedence.
A few years ago I bought a pre-owned Pass INT-150.   I replaced a Wyred4sound 4 channel amplifier, because I no longer needed to bi-amp.  Talk about going from apples to oranges... The Pass was kind of an impulse buy.  I did not compare to anything else at the time.  I can't really come up with any weak points other than that yes, they do run very warm.  That is intentional though.  I don't plan on changing unless some other system change forces me to.  I can envision a scenario where an integrated would not be appropriate, but for my system now, I prefer the convenience and the sound synergy of the Pass integrated.
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