Pass labs X350.5 jumpers and Power cables


I just picked up a Pass labs X350.5. Aside from an annoying ground loop I left left to figure out it sounds very nice.

The Pass Labs web site appears to be down. I've tried all morning to ask this question.

I want to try some single ended cables I have but read somewhere that I would need jumpers of some sort, I'm assuming, on the input side of the balanced connections. Was this amp supposed to come with jumpers?

This was a buy gone miserable. The was supposed to be nearly new, not even broken in. Upon receiving this amp I noted a lot of scuff marks, a few scratches and considerable dirt and dust. Not exactly an 9/10! I digress.

I noted substantial differences rotating power cables. Is there a general rule of power cable when it comes to this amp?

Thanks!
128x128desalvo55
After some experimenting last night I found that the Pass plugged into the wall, a dedicated circuit using 10awg copper with a Furutech outlet sounded superior to the PS Audio PPP. Thanks guys for the confirmation.

Too bad about the balanced interconnects sounding superior to the single ended. I hope to prove that wrong as I wish to use the balanced outs on my Cary SLP-05 pre to the Fathom F113's and the single ended cables to the Pass. Having mostly home brews but of significant quality, I'll be rotating cables until I get a handle on what I'll need to further the SQ.

Anybody want to drop by with some cables ;-)?

I made some crude jumpers last night and used my DIY RCA's which sounded great. I tried another pair and whooah sounded like crap. I mean crap. I went to the back of the amp and noted that one of my jumpers fell out. Now I know what jumpers mean to this amp!

What I'll do today is to grab some gold pins from a Burndy trim trio connector and 3 twists of 24awg gold plated jewelery wire and make some jumpers. I try that against the simpler 12awg copper approach.

Thanks.

As the night wore on and I played with setup on the system and sub I found a really nice balance and settled in to some of the best sounds I've heard. I took a room measurement using the Mobile USB Pre and RTA software and saw an amazingly flat response. 1 dip at about 180hz with a slight bulge at around 50 which I could dial down with the Fathom. But generally flat from 20Hz to 20KHz where it dropped very suddenly. It seems the Esotar tweeters I'm guessing don't sing beyond 20Khz?

I've got some very nice power cables but not of the cost of the Shunyata's. Looks like I'll be looking at the used market soon for a power cable.
Dont use the balanced outs to a subwoofer.

I am using the RCA outs from my Preamp to the Fathom F113's . The Balanced outs go to my Pass Labs Amp.
You really should try this.
Actually, the Balanced is a ittle louder than the single ended and does IMHO provide a more fuller sound.
The Fathom F113's can always be turned up if need be.
Ozzy, it's the setup I have now. JL Audio greatly prefers balanced and now it seems Pass prefers balanced as well. Well, Pass wins.
Desalvo55 - I'm sure you can get a new face plate (or just the handles - depending on what is scratched) from Pass Labs. Replacing them is not difficoult at all. If the amp was rated 9/10 cosmetic coindition, I would seek compensation from the seller.

Overstating the cosmetic condition is becaming a norm on AgoN lately - unfortunately.
I called Pass yesterday regarding the cost of the faceplates. Easy to replace I'm sure but at what cost. I need to more aware of feedback score when there is none. Told that this amp wasn't even broken in and looking like it's been around for a long long time leaves tuning somewhat difficult. If I'm selling this amp it's a 7/10.

I tried Steve Vai "Fire garden" last night as well as Steve Winwood "Nine Lives". What I find is a suprising amount of "hardness" in the treble for lack of better term. Sound didn't seem balanced especially if I attempted higher volumes. Switching to Neil Young "Chrome Dreams II" yielded much better results. This is balanced out from my Cary. Haven't tried tube rolling yet as I like to start with power cables then interconnects. I only have 1 set of balanced cables which worked wonders with my Nuforces but this is a far different animal.

No doubt Shunyata is the popular choice for power. What about interconnects?