2. amps-preamps
  3. 150439-108038

Pass Labs XA30.8

All, 

Do you think Pass Labs XA30.8 has enough power to drive 86 dBL Dynaudio focus 380 speaker well? My room size is 23'x18'x8' and I sit about 8' away from the speakers. Usual loudness is about 50 to 67 dBL when measured with noise meter app using my phone.

Also, what sonic improvement will I hear going from Bryston 4B Cube to XA30.8? 

Thanks.  
128x128panerai557
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
702 posts
 
Dear Auditory,
Yes I mean the Bryston 4B Cubed (4B3). Bryston stopped using the SST naming convention after SST2 (squared).
Btw, just a tip: perhaps you ought to check your frequent posts for grammatical completeness and accuracy. It may help in your advertising campaign.






panerai557's avatar
panerai557 OP
73 posts
 
audiotroy2,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered tube, and I owned lower end hybrid tube integrated amplifier previously. With my listening lifestyle, I think SS suits better. This is why I am considering the Pass amp because I read that it sounds very much like tube but without losing lower end power and details.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,791 posts
 
Panerai,

A tube like solid state there are many amps which sound somewhat tube like, however, none of these sound like a true tube product.

The issue may be other parts of your chain, what are you using for your preamp, digital and cabling?

Is the idea of switching amplifiers to create a more melodious sound? Is your current setup not musical enough for you? 

Sometimes the better choice may be chaning your digital front end or going to a tube preamp or both.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
Post removed 
panerai557's avatar
panerai557 OP
73 posts
 
Elizabeth, that's an interesting point you mentioned about AC receptacles. My dealer has been telling me that I should replace my $1 receptacles with Audioquest Edison. Perhaps I should change that first and see what differences it makes to my system before changing my current amp.

About my setup: I use AudioQuest Niagara 1000 power conditioner. From the wall AC to Niagara, I use AQ Thunder PC. My digital front end / preamp is Moon 390. I use Zu Event I PC for the 390 and 4B Cube. XLR IC is Siltect 550i. My speaker cable is AQ Rocket 88. My room is treated with 10 HFTs.

I honestly am happy with my current setup, but the improvement I am looking for is more holographic sound, stable imaging, depth, and tonal accuracy. I am not even sure if changing the amp will give me that or not, but by reading reviews on the Pass amp, I get the sense that it exhibits those sonic characters that I am looking for better than the Bryston amp. 

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