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Pass Labs amp choice for CLS - What would you do?

After much reading and soul searching I have decided to upgrade the amp on my CLS speakers. I can buy a used X350.5 (current generation) or a pair of X600 mono blocks (previous generation - can't afford the X600.5) for a similar price. Is the .5 model change significant? There is no way that I can audition/compare them on my system, so I will have to take a leap of faith. I know I can't go wrong, but what would you do? And what pre-amps should I be looking at?
dchazen
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
The X-600 amps are GREAT! I had a pair for 2 years and am a huge Pass Labs fan. BUT they put out TONS of heat. That is the only reason I sold mine. I went with EDGE NL 10.1. WOW! Way better IMHO. Way cooler, more detail, smoother, better imaging. Highs to die for. 1/2 the footprint.
teajay
1,691 posts
 
Dchazen, take a look at my Gon reviews of the 350.5, XA-100's and XA-30.5's to get the details why I would select the 350.5 over the X-600's. I did not care for the X-series amps sonicly, but the X-.5 series are great sounding amps.

Srwooten, I'm glad that you love your Edge 10.1 in your system. I had an Edge NL-10 and enjoyed it very much, however when the new X-.5 series came out, it was much more musical then the NL-10 in my system. As stated above the X-series amps to me were somewhat cold and steely sounding to me, but when Nelson Pass came out with the X-.5 series and then the XA and XA.5 series he nailed it and I believe that he surpassed the Edge gear in its sonic performance.
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
Teejay-
My comments were only on the X-600's to help the OP.
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