Pass Labs 1st Watt Rundown

I have a 20x20 family room that serves as my Pass/First Watt DIY venue. If there is a common denominator it is what I hear as purity of sound. A friend likes to say that power and purity are at odds in audio equipment. He’s a low-power tube and First Watt fan. I suppose you can have both if you spend enough money. But in general,  You simply decide that you accept power limitations and some heat  in exchange for a carefully curated Class A sound.I paired a set of 95-db speakers with an M2 diy versión and a Pass NuTube preamp, also a diy project, and find absolutely nothing to complain about. I have also used that amp/pre combo to drive small Magnepans, not to very loud levels but to very satisfying results. Rock & roll? Forget it. Classical, folk, acoustic jazz trio? Go for it. 

@tonydennison there’s a nice XA30.5 on USAM here

This would be my choice in the $3000 price range, now that you’re talking Pass Labs amps here, before any of the First Watt offerings (and as a continuation of your other thread). I’m not saying it sounds like tubes, but…it’s warm, detailed, musical, with incredible mids and throws a nice holographic soundstage. It’s a higher end amp than the First Watt. Class A up to 30w, then A/B up to around 90w into 8ohms. It’s less likely to run out of juice and is a more universal amp than the FW. I drove my Wilson Audio Sabrina with the XA30.8, the latest iteration of XA30 amps. Great sound. Something to consider as an alternative to First Watt. 

Thank you @audphile1 

@audphile1 

Do you have experience with the AX25? can you compare it to the XA30?

In my mind, If I decided to leave tubes I would first try Pass and these two seem to be where I would start.

Thanks

@tonydennison I do not have experience with XA25 but there are reviews comparing the XA25 to XA30.8 if I’m not mistaking. Should give you an idea. In any case I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the XA amps provided these amps are a good match with your speakers from the rated power and stability into the load your speakers present. I think with klipsch these Pass amps are going to be a very nice match.

One more piece of information to consider - if you plan on running an XA amp single ended (RCA cables), make sure you have and use the XLR jumpers. Running these amps single ended without the jumpers in place will result in increased noise and they just won’t sound as good. If you end up buying an XA amp used and the jumpers are missing, call Pass Labs and they will send you a pair. Customer support is one of, if not the, best in the industry.