Pass Labs x250.8 vs tube amps

Yes, I am running BAT rex2 tube preamp with my Pass Labs. It sounds better with it than without it when I go direct from Lumin X1 streamer/dac which has outstanding LEEDH volume control. One option is to get rid of rex2/Pass and go directly from Lumin X1 to a tube amp, to get the tubes smoothness. If I do this, I can go for a much more expensive tube amp.

Hi there.  I had the ARC Reference 10 pre and Ayre MX-R monos.  They turned my audio room (16' x 18') into a hot yoga facility after about 3 hours of play.  Also, I wasn't that pleased with the sound after a visit to the Munich Hi-End Show and hearing what other systems at the same or slightly less price were delivering.  When I returned I continued my research and testing.  I landed on the Octave Jubilee (a hybrid with a solid state power supply) and the Octave MRE 220 w/ the "Super Black Boxes", which are external capacitance power devices (one per mono amp).  They are leagues above my old components in their build quality and sonic performance across all parameters of measurement and evaluation.  To single out just a few qualities: incredible inner detail and nuance - check; accuracy in tone and musical pace - check; a vastly bigger, deeper and more defined soundstage - check; and, a much fuller, deeper and more articulate bass - check again.

But moving to your concerns.  The components need no more than an hour to achieve full potential and the tube pre and tube monos together give off far less heat than just my ARC Reference 10 did (a two box unit with a tube power supply).  Tons of power from the MRE 220 amps with and without the SBBs. 

There is so much great gear across the pond providing far better performance and value.  You only need to visit a handful of European countries to quickly appreciate how much more they are into music than Canada and America.  They've had a head start and it shows.

Ray

Ray

One option I was thinking is to take out the expensive tube BAT Rex2 preamp and connect Lumin X1 streamer/dac directly to a high gain tube amp, using the LEEDH volume control on X1. However, I found with my Pass X250.8, which has gain of 26, some albums weren't loud enough at LEEDH max volume. I was thinking that 3 db additional gain would be just enough. Well, MRE220 has 29 db gain and got good reviews. There is a used one on the market (without SBB) at around $10,000. It should have plenty of power to drive my SL speakers.

1.What is the power consumption at idle? My Rex2/x250.8 combined put out 900W of heat at idle.
2. Sibilance and edgy sound bother me a lot. How does MRE220 do on this?
3. How do you like Jubilee vs. MRE220? The person selling MRE220 is also moving to Jubilee.

OP.  There is a problem.  I have a 150.8 and it 'only' took an hour to get best performance, from off.  I leave it on standby and get best performance in minutes.  An amp that takes five or six hours to sound best is defective.  
As for tubes: If your Pre is tube based then in my humble opinion that is enough.  

Hi Chung, 
we have similar small room and if you not get bother with heat then go try tube amp .The heat from power tubes is hotter than pass amp !!! But winter is coming so no worries 😁.
me also use Pass before but 250.5 And their INT.
my experience with tube amp is pretty fast to warm up , at 15 min I can do listening But getting better in 30 min or so.
I try some prima Luna ,Line magnetic & Audio research Then settle with Air Tight .Tube amp also look better in my opinion 👍.
Have great evening 🙏