Speaker match with Pass Labs XA-160

Grandme,

Your amps can drive just about anything from inefficient planars to 107 dB efficient horns. High power Class A amplification can pretty much do it all.

Obviously you like the Virgos and RELs because you're keeping them.

So... in what ways are you looking for a different experience from this new pair of speakers? Or, are you looking for a different experience?

Duke

Duke, I do not want to limit my experience to what I'm listening to now. Moving up from a Pass X-350 to the XA-160s is a large leap. Will my current setup do them justice? I have never heard true full range speakers in my room and I do not want to limit my audio quest with the feeling "I'm done" where is the fun in that! I thought with this thread people would jump onto their keyboards to sing the praises of the best XA - full range combo they have heard. I got a recommendation for Wilson 7s. But everyone else is way too logical. You now how hard it is to audition large high end speaker in your own room. That is why so many of us are members of this fine club...we get valuable information from informed, experianced Audiophiles. So yes I am looking for a different experience....not that my current one is lacking. But I know there is no end in sight... searching for audio heaven.
Greg

I heard the XA-160s with Eggleston Works Andra II's. If you like the Pass sound, the XA is a welcome step up from the X-350. More rounded, fluid, altogether more musical. The Andra II's are phenomenally good, the kind of speaker that will stop you from looking further.

Good luck!

boa2: i am curious, how would you characterize the pass sound?

Tboooe,
How would I characterize the Pass sound?
X-350, X-350.5, X-600, etc. have a similar character to them, as do the preamps and phono stages. To my ear, these are the adjectives that come to mind:
incisive, dry, narrow, neutral, ashy, wispy, airy.
I'm calling it like I hear it, with neither a vote for or against Pass.

I found the XA-160s had a bit more jump and dance to them. They orchestrated the music in a more arrestive manner, and with a sweeter, tad more emotional (read: triode-ish) sound to them.

Hope that answers your question.