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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
pardales
652 posts
 
I await my 250.5 in a few days. I seriously considered the 350.5 but really did not need the extra watts as I used to run my speakers with 200 watts that was more than enough. Once I spend a little time with it I would be happy to reply to a direct email from anyone who is interested in my report. My old amp was a McIntosh MA 6900 integrated (which I liked and owned for 3 years).
bobheinatz
724 posts
 
Pardales,

Congradtulation on your purchase of the 250.5. I bought one 2 months ago and love it. My speakers are Innersound Eros 3.5 which my 70 watt tube amp drove ok but I felt that something might be missing and I was right. The low level detail is outstanding. I also found that running with balanced i/c's work better.
pingpong
43 posts
 
hi,

may i know what pre are you guys using to match with the Passlabs power?

Thanks.
pardales
652 posts
 
I do not have a pre, per se. I have an Audio Aero Prima MK II SE DAC that doubles as a linestage. It has analog volume control and 2 line level inputs (in addition to the numerous digital inputs). I love it.

And by the way, I am blown away by the 250.5 driving my JR's so far. I still have a lot of break in to do with the amp and some new power cables, but this amp is incredible.
courtvision21cbcc
32 posts
 
Hi all,

Can someone explain to me why the lower model X250 would sound better than the higher model the X350? Please elaborate? Wouldn't the X350 sound/perform better than the X250 if one's system had a harder to drive power hungry speakers (in a large room)given all else equal? I am just quite confused to hear people on this forum say this statement and to have Pass Labs employess acknowledge the X250 is better than the X350 also. Is the X350 really made inferior or just not executed as well as the X250 during the designing process? I am curious to know why. If the X250 is better, how so compared to the X350?

Thanks,
HJ
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