FirstWatt SIT-3 or Pass Labs XA25 for Avalon Indras?

I’ve owned the XA25 twice and tried it with a variety of speaker loads.

IMO, the amp does not excel at low listening levels, nor does it drive low impedance loads very well. It is a sweet sounding amp with great soundstage, but it really requires careful speaker matching to bring out its best. I wouldn’t want to use it with any speakers of <90dB sensitivity and <6-ohm nominal load. Also best if the speaker’s impedance has mild phase angles.

I realize this largely contradicts the claims made in the Stereophile review, but that just goes to show (IMO) the misleading tendencies of such publications. I get they often have to walk a fine line between praise and criticism, but I wish they’d be a more forthright about component limitations and synergy. Claiming that the XA25 can adequately power Magnepans for example, ultimately does nothing more than a disservice to both Pass and the consumer. The more experienced I become in this “hobby”/industry, the less I pay mind to the claims in these magazines.

The Coda No.8 (any version) will give you much of the same sound profile as the XA25 and sound way more authoritative at low listening levels with your Avalons.

Others I recommend considering are the Yamaha (yes, for real) A-S2100 or 2200 integrated amps. I owned the 2200 (currently own a 2100) at the same time as the XA25 and concluded it was overall sweeter/lusher (more similar to a SET amp) than the Pass, and like the Coda, sounds far more effortless at all listening levels. My experience is that both those Yamaha integrateds marry most of the strengths of tubes and SS, and can compete well against any separates combos I’ve compiled under ≈$8K retail.

Anyhow, the two amps you’re considering would probably be two of the last I imagine would pair well with Avalons.

"@ulul Power is not the key point, if I listen to music during the day the knob never goes beyond half of the current power amp ... ... The aim is to have magic and involvement at low volume."

Others here have already mentioned something similar to my own experience. Another .02 cents to add if it helps.

After messing around for too long over a few decades between my former 87db 4ohm and 92db 6ohm speakers, trying and owning several capable solid state and tube amps, the part about listening at "low volume" with lower current / lower power amps can be challenging to achieve for what I think you are looking for here from the sound. Sure the lower power and lower current amps will play, nice and smooth. However if that’s all you are looking for, may be good enough. Now room filling sound, that’s another thing at lower output levels. Learned this the hard way.

If you are planning to keep your existing 87db 4ohm speakers, and if filling the whole room with sound at Low listening levels, I’ve just found my traditional higher current / higher power SS amps with a little more weight to the iron and power can help. Yes, particularly at low level listening levels is what I’m getting at primarily.

Later I stopped fighting it and sold my lower efficiency 87db 4ohm speakers in order to try different lower power amplifiers again. With that said I still enjoy a tad more current/power with weighty transformers in the amps and one of those I alternate with now is only a full-time Class A 50w modified Pass amp btw. It does well for its power and size, yet when I jump to my 120w mono tube amps with double the iron, my 92.5db 6ohm speakers just sing that much more at low, medium, or high levels. Hope that helps, maybe look at something with a little more current/power/drive as others mentioned here for your Avalons. Best of Luck.

Thank you for these useful experiences. Has anyone listened to SIT3?

Between the two hands down the XA25, not even close. I have heard a few SIT amps and they sound best with higher efficiency easy to drive speakers but they were too fast paced and uneven sounding as a system. The SIT3 only has 11db gain which is extremely low and may sound anemic with typical gain preamps. Even the XA25 sounds best with higher gain preamps- e.g. 20db or so.

The SIT3 only delivers 8 watts at 8 ohms before it starts to clip, unless you have a small room, listen close to the speakers and like moderate volume listening cross that one off of your list.

I have owned the XA25 and with my speakers which have a similar impedance and sensitivity to yours the sound was excellent, one of the best sounding amps I have heard or owned.

It has almost twice the gain as the SIT3 and starts clipping at 90 watts per channel despite it's 25 watt rating.  

In addition to suggestions above, if you still have interest in Pass design, look up reviews of the SIT 4, particularly a video of Steve Guttenberg (SG), a stereo unit, due for release in mono block --twice the power. SG suggests "notably more powerful sound than specs suggest". Of course there is only one way to find out. Enjoy the search.