@jetter
All dependent on your speakers..
The SIT3 is very special.. it’s very SET like.. upfront presentation, black quiet background where music emerges effortlessly.. unlike anything I ever owned.. my first choice if you have the right speakers. The XA25 is a close 2nd, more power to drive most speakers, more heft/weight to demanding peaks than the SIT3, but not as “live” sounding when compared to the SIT3 . Very transparent and non fatiguing. I listened for hours on end, makes you want to open it up and look inside for hidden tubes.
Leaning to the right of neutral. I had a hard time letting it go. I kept them both, but not very practical as I Have another pass amp in the other room.
I only heard the 30.8 at a friends house in his system. That’s what inspired me to get the XA25 as the 30.8 is massive! It has a similar pass house sound. Leaning to the warm side of neutral. But has lots of dynamics. You can tell the power supply and amp is underrated as it’s like always wanting to present itself in a dynamic way, very transparent. My friend is using it with very sensitive Horn hybrid type speakers, I don’t think it’s a good match personally at 102 DB sensitivity, I would be using a 2A3 monos. I’m surprised it’s quiet enough to be used with such a sensitive speaker, but it is dead quiet background. Really speaks to pass designs. I was quite happy with just the XA25, but I had the opportunity to get a new SIT3 amp, one of the last ones to be sold out of the 250 that were made...
im enjoying these lower powered amps. They’re easier to move and purchase and they make you realize just how powerful a few watts can be.