2. amps-preamps
  3. 164376-156954

Disappointment with Pass Labs - I'm looking for something else

Hello, I am new to this forum and my mother tongue is not English, so please forgive me if I make mistakes as I use a translator.

I recently bought an XA30.8 and an XP12. I was very happy but as time went by I began to not feel comfortable with the sound.
After doing many tests, I find that the XA30.8 sounds very very sweet but actually too much. I find it to be a loosely defined amp, somewhat muddy and lacks a lot of air and grip. The soundstage is very closed.

The XP-12 is the worst of the two. It is a previous that removes a lot of resolution and information, without transient attacks and sunken mid frequencies. Instead it brings warmth.

Has anyone of you found the same?

If you ask me, I have a Klipsch Cornwall and a dCS BArtok.

Now I want a capable amp, forceful, something warm, decisive, airy and with a great soundstage.

At first I thought of changing my XA30.8 for X250.8, and changing the XP-12 for a second-hand Audio Research Ref5. I am afraid of this change and continue with Pass, since I can go back to the same thing a bit.

On the other hand I have thought of going for a Luxman 900 combo, since it has very good reviews and from what I have read it could be the winning ticket.
opm
deepererthought
2 posts
 
If you are after the Pass Labs sound and you are not happy with the XA30.8 then I’d thoroughly recommend the XA25 as a cheaper alternative. I sold my XA30.8 and bought an XA25 for a similar reason to the OP. I felt that as nice as the XA30.8 was, it was too warm and it didn’t have tight enough bass. The XA25 has that Class A relaxed sound but it coupled with a lower noise floor and high levels of speaker control (lower output impedance). It also has fairly similar power output to the XA30.8 (Stereophile measured 90 watts into 8 ohms). Pure Class-A extends to about 25 watts which is similar figure to the XA30.8 from memory.
It also weighs about half as much so you won’t get a hernia lifting it (ask me how I know)......
deepererthought
2 posts
 
Also, if you did buy the XA25 you still really don’t like the Pass Labs preamp, I’d heartily recommend the PS Audio BHK Preamp. I use mine with Telefunken tubes and it is sublime.
redwoodaudio
415 posts
 
I find that the XA30.8 sounds very very sweet but actually too much. I find it to be a loosely defined amp, somewhat muddy and lacks a lot of air and grip. The soundstage is very closed.
If this is your experience with the pass xa30.8, you either got a bad sample of the amp or it’s your speakers.  My pass xa30.8 into harbeth 30.2s is the exact opposite of what you describe.  Pinpoint imaging, precision, tight bass, glorious soundstage.  Damping factor is healthy 150 I believe.
I’m going with a push pull tube amp next, but not because of any real deficiencies with the pass. Just looking for a different sound.  

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
I am surprised.

You will be really hard pressed to find anything better than the Pass Labs (maybe I am biased, I listened to many, Pass just not only killed them, it demolished them).

But then again, I guess it is your money.  Audition before you buy.

geof3
1,129 posts
 
I agree with some of the above, the problem isn’t Pass, it’s the synergy with the rest of your gear. Several reviews mention though the XA30.8 to be similar to your description, and in head to head reviews, the XA25 wins in most areas. It also hits way above its rated output. Having said that, Pass amps do have a character all their own, the .5’s the .8s and now the XA25 all have their own characteristics. Here is an excellent paper on where Nelson is leaning these days... the XA25 is mentioned.

https://www.firstwatt.com/pdf/art_the_square_law.pdf
More to discover