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Are Pass Labs amps good at low volume levels?

I am considering the Pass X250.5/8. Nearly all amps I have tried aside from the Mark Levinson 532H sounds like something is missing at low volume levels. The Levinson manages to sound great and not feel like I'm missing anything other than the bass.

I am considering an upgrade from Levinson to Pass but am curious how it handles low volume listening as it seems many amps require a medium or high volume level to sound their best.

nemesis1218
nemesis1218 OP
39 posts
 
Speakers are Gallo Strada. This is for a secondary small room system. I'm using a Benchmark DAC3 HGC with volume control directly into the amp. (top of the line dac with very low noise floor and Benchmark actually advises running it this way without a preamp)
adg101
1,057 posts
 
Should be fine. My X250 sounds very good at low volume. It’s all about the synergy of the equipment, clean power, equipment/rack isolation and room treatment more than just the amp I feel. If you achieve a system that is revealing it will sound very good a lower levels. It’s a combination of many things so not sure only certain amps will get you there but a Pass will deliver with some work no problem.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
If the goal is incredible sound at low volume my focus would be overweight on speakers.
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,514 posts
 
I'd be eyeing the speakers as well. 
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,540 posts
 
In his very long thread on amps whitecamaross  also stated that the ML 532H sounded very good at low volumes.  I don't recall him noting this for other amps.  

He liked the Pass amps early on in his journey but once he listened to the Simaudio 860 and the Luxman M-900 and even higher priced amps, he changed his opinion on Pass, calling them midfi.  Send him an email.  He'll give you his opinion on what might work for you.
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