If I were you, which I'm not, I would narrow the field first. You have some highly sensitive speakers and they can do low wattage to high. Get a single-ended triode tube amp. For this I would recommend Decware, but I'm admittedly partial. From there get a nice high wattage tube amp something like a AR, McIntosh, Cary, etc.. Also get something that is a very good AB solid state. Do this while holding onto your Pass. From there, play all of these for extended time. It is said that the mind wanders to what the heart wants. I would give it a good 30 days of heavy listening, swapping in and out. Send back or sell what you don't like. See if you can find an audio store that will work with you on your search. Now, whatever your heart wants, start sampling amps in that genre. You will find the one. At least one can hope. I currently have 5 different systems set up in my house and kind of go from one to the other. Some are steak and potato, some are hotdogs with chili sauce and onion and one that is total gourmet. While you might like to eat gourmet every night, why do you find yourself craving a good dog with the works? I decided a long time ago there isn't going to be just "the one" for me. Once you find the perfect amp for those speakers, someone will talk you into trying a different pair of speakers and its lather rinse repeat all over again, but with speakers. Every speaker has its good, better, best amp for it. This changes with every pair of speakers I've listened to. Good luck in your search.
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.
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.
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- 149 posts total
- 149 posts total