2. amps-preamps
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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
rh67
307 posts
 
First, Pass labs amps take at least 200hrs. to sound their best. How many hours do you have listening to music? Have you set a counting timer to keep track? A friend once told me that he listened to music about a 100hrs. a month i loaned him my timer to see exactly how long he did listen to music each month and it was not 100hrs. but 60hrs. so as Pass amp would take him three and a half months to get sounding it`s best.

Don`t throw in the towel too fast with the Pass equipment i have heard the 30.8 sounding great with none of the issues you describe, personally i own the XA25 which to me is the best of tubes and SS.

I`m not a fan of your speakers which i once owned for several years for me they left a lot to be desired. A nice pair of Watt Puppy`s 5.1 and up or Devore Nines sound magical with Pass and can be found in the price range that you sell your Cornwalls for.
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chilli42
111 posts
 
If you do go with the Pass X250 and AR Ref 5 pre ... take a close look at the gain matching. I have Pass XA 60.8, AR Ref 6 and Avantgarde UNO speakers.  The I love the sound of my setup but I can’t turn the volume control past 5 without blowing my ceiling off (so to speak).  I had to add attenuators.

One other thought, if the new speaker you find has a powered woofer you may not need to change your amp.
canthinkofanything
6 posts
 
I’m currently running a Bartok direct into Pass XA25 and it is not loosely controlled or overly sweet. Sound very fast, transparent and neutral to me. Maybe not warm though. Excellent soundstage air and detail. It’s all personal taste of course but it may be the speakers. Or cabling?
opm OP
40 posts
 
I would very much like to be able to test the Xa25. You in the USA have it very easy because the manufacturers offer demos at home but in Europe it is not like that.
The wiring is not the problem.
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