Pass Labs XA- ".5" ???


Is this true?
gandme
Just to let you all know the reason I started this thread.
I have had my XA-160's for sale here on Audiogon for 3 months. Recently a perspective buyer inquired into the cost and had some warranty questions. I told him my price and referred him to Pass Labs for tech info and warranty assurance. His next email to me was,"I know why you are trying to unload them, the new XA-.5's will be out next month".... He said my "XA-160's would be hovering in the $4K to $5k range". My first thought was he was confusing the X-.5 series with the XA series...low and behold he was right! I hate to be the last one to know, Gee whiz (I never say gee whiz) I thought they were the best amps I have ever heard!!!%$##&*^).... $4 to $5K... maybe in 7 or 8 years!
The "hovering in the $4K to $5K range" was a insult!!
Am I too thin skinned?
Sometimes I feel I should advertise like the Audio Pimp... lay out the rules of engagement... "don't waste my time with nonsence". Pardon my short fuse. I have been low balled 4 times in the last 2 weeks because another member decided to unload his XA's at a big discount($8500.00) he must have needed the cash fast! I understand that... but did I get any offers when another set went for $10,000...
For everyone who owns the XA series amps, you have great ears and impeccable artistic taste!

Greg
Greg,
The XA-160.5 will be released after the 100.5, 60.5, and 30.5 so buyers might be waiting a year or more.

The upgraded 160.5 and 200.5 are the last amps scheduled to be released in the series.

Good luck.
Personally I never thought the XA's weren't such a good idea. At those prices, I believe the amps should be able to handle a much wider selection of speakers. I suspect that a great many people who buy speakers that don't drop below 8 Ohms, have a strong preference for tube amps and wouldn't even consider ss alternatives. Even Pass' older top of the line class A Threshold amps had no problem with low impedance speakes. If the XA.5's can really double down and maintain their sonic qualites, I bet they'll have a truly special winner. Perhaps they can do away with the meters to keep the prices down a bit.
AudioFeil. I am Not Wrong.

Read my forum. I said they were about to release the XA-.5 series for Pass Labs. When asked about the XA-160 monos about a price Peter told me it would be about $5K per amp for the upgrade "per amplifier".

I said ouch ! Living in CT it would cost about $11K for the upgrades. I only said this because I have a friend who is selling his Pass Labs XA-160's for $7500 cash on the pair.

I don't want to spend $7500 then in the near future spend another $11K if I want the best. Because before the year is up XA-160's will be selling below $6K for the pair. If the XA-160.5 is that much better than the XA-160.

AudioFeil, I know you are a Pass Labs dealer so there clearly is an agenda to sell new product. So say what you want to say. But I talked with Peter Perkins and Nelson Pass recently.

Joe