Amplfiers that Sound like Pass 30.8 that are not so heavy

I've just bought the XA25.

http://6moons.com/audioreviews2/passlabs3/3.html

Tonally especially in the vocal band it was slightly fruitier than the XA-30.8. Microdynamically it was clearly more expressive like a faster circuit. This was particularly evident on Mayte’s voice. It scaled more dramatically, hence felt bigger. When bass and drums kick in to suddenly light up the soundstage in its outer quadrants, their contrast ratio relative to the guitar, violin and singer which were already on was higher. With the XA-30.8 in my estimation being slightly dark, bassy and dense, the XA25 stirred in some quicksilver. The mean trick was injecting a quickening agent without diluting the tone density and chunkiness I adore in our stable mate. Typically, so-called fast amps like our 1MHz LinnenberG Allegros lighten the load. It’s as though to go so fast, they have to shed some tone mass or physicality. Decisively, the XA25’s uptick on the accelerator did not.

rather than to actual valve amps, I’ve transitioned to Pass Labs and FirstWatt. Their amps do some of the things I like about tubes without any of the things I really don’t. By now quite certain where to look, the higher orchestral background violins here and there showed just a touch more horse hairs with the XA25 as their metallic/glassy not wooden/creamy personality trait. This led to the impression of elevated image lock or being better separated out from the mix as discrete entities. Still, the overriding takeaway from this session was somehow more focused on how the amps overlapped, not where they diverged. The key word of complete agreement between XA-30.8 and XA25 was sonorous.

If we consult certain synonyms, we circle that sonorous wagon more tightly. "Vibrant, full-bodied, resounding, majestic, lofty, strong, imposing."

You could put it on a dolly if you’re moving it around frequently

I think the main problem is lifting the amp alone. If the amp is too heavy, 2 persons may be required to safely lift and move the amp. The heaviest amp that I managed alone when I owned it weighs 85 lbs, and that’s about the limit for me. My current amp now weighs 64 lbs max which is much more manageable.

I’ve just bought the XA25.

[please excuse my poor English]

Thanks @millercarbon for that interesting input about the 25w Pass XA25’s sound. It weighs 45 lbs/20.4 kg (so it is up to the OP; did he mentioned the maximum weight that he/his back could manage?).

Alternatively, the aforementioned NuPrime AMG-STA (8.8 lbs) power amplifiers could do the job, though in a somewhat different way.

just summarizing a bit for op - with units worth considering imo (sound quality all on par, and outstanding, just somewhat differing sonic characters)

pass xa30.8 @ 88 lbs as reference

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pass xa25 @ 45 lbs $4000 (lower power though)

hegel h20 @ 53 lbs $4000 (much more power, slightly leaner midbass, very pure)

agd tempo @ 10 lbs $5000 similar tone, slightly purer overall)

linear tube audio zotl ref40 @ 15 lbs $6500 (tubey sweetness, softer bass)

i have all these amps currently (my agd’s are the audion monos, whereas tempo is slightly more cost effective stereo version)

OP's speakers are listed as 87.5 dB sensitive and 8 ohm. I'm always curious about the amp choices people make when it comes down to power vs. sound quality characteristics. Always seems to be some sort of compromise...