Are Pass Labs amps probably the best ever you can buy ?

What about First Sound pre for Pass Lab 

I recently had Pass restore/update a pair of Aleph 2 mono block amps. My experience with Pass Labs and Kent English has re-set the bar for fantastic customer service. These amps are spectacular. 

I had to check the date to be sure this wasn't an old, resurrected thread.


There are a number of amps at the Pass price point I like better, and even a number of less expensive amps I like better. I agree that Pass sounds different, and for the right person with the right speakers they make buyers very happy. From what I've read, of those who have been generous enough to share with me their buying history and experience, the speakers can make a big difference as to whether Pass is "the best" or not.  Tannoy is one of the brands I hear Pass lovers like to use, so this may be a good guide.


My advice to anyone looking at Pass is to use your own ears and compare them with Ayre and Luxman. These three amp brands sound very different, so they'll give a buyer a really nice survey of the land.

Have to agree with Eric, use YOUR own ears and decide. Pass is not what I find to my liking, although good it can be a bit sterile to me. But to YOU it just might tick off all the boxes.

I owned a Pass Labs X350.5 amp and preamp for years. One day I tried tube mono blocks and ended up selling the Pass Equipment.

ozzy