Pass X-250.8, X-250.5 or XA-30.8...or?

WC audiogon user swaps equipment like a nascar pit crew swaps tires.

Its great fun but imho you dont buy based on listening to constantly rotating equipment over a brief period of time.

I own the 260.8 monoblocks and doubt will sell them because while I would love to hear the XA200.8 monoblocks they cost a lot more and run a lot hotter.  The 600.8 monoblocks might be appealing but take up incredible amount of room and also run so hot.  The XS amps are prohibitively expensive.  

it took a little bit of time to get the pass labs to mate well with the Harbeth 40.2 but now it sounds wonderful for almost any recording even poorly recorded ones.  Had I made a final conclusion after 30 days or less my opinion would have been pretty good only.

I also own a dartzeel amplifier for a different room and think that the pass labs is pretty close in the midrange and has more bass slam.  

The pass labs is a great value when you consider performance versus cost.

the dartzeel amplifier is very expensive in the USA but again is crazy good especially if you buy it used.



 

@karmapolice  some questions

1.  What changed for you after listening for longer period about pass?

2. Overall how close does your pass amps get to dart performance? And which Dart do you have?

3. Have you heard any lux amps?
Thx!

I have an X350.8 arriving on Friday. I've owned the Luxman, Rowland, etc. on my YGs Haileys. They love power, that is clear. My lowly Ampzillas have and continue to be my base amplifiers. 

Keith great choice. I have a feeling the YG, Pass pairing will be excellent. I talked to my local YG dealer about this, he runs BHK300s on his Sonja 1.3 (hes upgrading to 2.3 soon). I mentioned Pass and he seemed to think the BHKs would definitely be better but I think he underestimates Pass. They make fantastic amps. Please let us know how it works out.
Which Luxman did you have?

I've owned the BHKs as well (and tube rolled) - did not find them the right match. Luxman m900, Rowland 625s2. I've considered the Hegel as well but hear it's quite forward sounding which isn't my preference.