A review Bound for Sound for Pass Labs fans
I take all reviews with a "grain of salt" perspective. After all, their just someone's hopefully honest and somewhat informed opinion regarding the sonics of that piece in their system. However, I cut Martin G. DeWulf, publisher/reviewer of Bound for Sound, a little more slack then most for at least two reasons. 1) He has no ads so he does not have to "suck up" to any manufacturers for $. 2) He often prints negative reviews, if that's what he hears.
In the most recent Bound for Sound, DeWulf reviews the Pass LabsX-350.5, the first "professional" review that I'm aware of, regarding any of the .5 amps.
He states the following:
1) He thought that in the past that the X-250 was a great piece, but did not care for the performance of the X-350. DeWulf gives great credit to Pass Labs for not getting defensive regarding his past review that was negative towards the X-350 and being more then happy/fearless in sending him the new X-350.5. for review, he believes many other companies would not, if they recieve a negative review from him in the past.
2) He states that even with all the "Buzz" regarding the new digital amps, class D amps, class LMNOP amps, when people come over to hear his system, they all first get caught up in the "eye-candy" regarding the X-350.5, and then respond with, "That thing sounds awesome!"
3) He goes into great details regarding the build quality and new design changes that filtered down from the XA amps into the new .5 series.
4) DeWulf has auditioned many highly regarded Solid State amps such Ayre, Edge, Parasound, PBN Sierra Olympus and does a fine job of comparing the 350.5's sonics to these other reference single chassis or mono-blocks.
5)His final verdict regarding the 350.5's place in the hierarchy of world class solid state amps, "This is the finest solid state power amplifier that I've had in the Big Rig to date-long live the new king.
Well, I'm a big fan of Nelson Pass and the other guys at Pass Labs, I had the 350.5 as my reference (did a review of it here on the GON) only to be replaced by XA-100's, and am glad that this amp finally got the credit it deserves in a well done and through review.
