Pass Labs XA30.5 and ModWright KWA150

I too had the XA30.5 and M60s at the same time driving Merlin VSMs. The Pass is by far the best SS amp I have ever heard. I kept the Atma-sphere M60s, as it was the best amp I have ever heard driving the Merlins. I have not hear the Modwright, so I have nothing to say about it, but I do get the feeling that the XA30.5 will be remembered as one the very best amps Nelson Pass has ever made, and that says alot.

I also agree with some posters here that Pass amps don't really sound tube-like (I had a 250.5 though, not the XA series)

The SS amp that sounds like tubes to me is McIntosh.

The XA is a bit more tube like compared to th eX series.

you are looking into "the most "tube-like" SS amps " then you MUST check Spectron amplifier !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I owned a number of tube amps and the last was a McIntosh ...but no comparison with Spectron.

Mike

As a Spectron owner, it is not tube.

I have owned McIntosh MC 501, it's far from a good tube amp.

Bottom line, tube rules. I am keeping my BAT 150SE.