2. amps-preamps
  3. 1126786522

PassLabs X250 X350 and X250.5

I own a PassLabs X250 amp and I am thinking about upgrading to the new X250.5 or the old X350. I have a pair of Spendor SP1/2e speakers,Classe Audio CP60 preamp, and a Meridian G08 CD player. I called PassLabs several times to ask them what they think I should buy. Everytime I called I got different answers. Yesterday someone at Pass told me the X250 sounds better then the X350 and very close to the sound of the X600. Another time they told me X350 sounds better then the X250. They told me another time that the X250 and X350 sound almost the same and if I did not need the extra power go with the X250. Should I just go with the new X250.5? I don't have a dealer near me to listen to the amps. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank You...
128x128ezaudio
pingpong
43 posts
 
hi Ezaudio,

hope this helps u

http://www.echoloft.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=hifigeneral&action=display&num=1116484434
teajay
1,691 posts
 
Ezaudio, in the first generation of X amps your 250 was the best sounding of the three two channel amps by far. I don't know if you talked to Peter or Kent at Pass, but when I did they both agreed that the new 350.5 was the new "sweet spot" in the two channel amps. The difference is not a minor one in the X-.5 series compared with the first generation but adds great musicality/warmth without losing the great dynamics/speed of your amp. The 350.5 replaced an Edge NL-10 in my system that was/is a great amp but could not do some of things the Pass Labs can. You could ,if your interested, look up my review I wrote for the GON that will give you more details then this short post. So, my opinion would be is that either the 250.5 or 350.5 would offer you a real upgrade compared with your terrific 250. I have not talked to anyone yet who has replaced their X amps with the new X-.5's amps that have not been wonderfully pleased with their new amp. Hope this helps.
irish65
170 posts
 
I agree with Teajay. Out of the stereo amps in the X series the X250 was at the top and the X350 was at the bottom. I have owned the X600 and currently own the X350.5. I prefer the X350.5. The older x series I would describe as on the cool side. The new .5 series are sweet sounding. Some have stated warm but to my ears I do not hear that.
If you do not need the extra power then the X250.5 will be a significant upgrade. If you want more power then the X350.5 is the way to go if you are leaning toward the Pass amps.
Perter Perkins at Pass has the X350.5 in his own system. He stated that out of the new .5 series the X350.5 was the better out of the stereo amps. This is what he told me so take this with a grain of salt.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
tdaudio
201 posts
 
I remember the 350.5 running a fair amount higher in class A mode than the 250.5. That may be part of a better difference for the 350.5.

I just went to the web site quick but could not find the numbers. I thought it was something like 35 vs 65 class A watts for the 250 vs the 350.5. More difference than max output.

I have Aleph 2s (100W class A) driving Vandersteen 5As and have given more than a passing consideration on both amps. But I am still looking.

TD
More to discover