Pass Labs:What to expect fm XA60.5 to XA100.5

Hi Guys,

Apologies for the late update, was tied up and seldom log into the site.

Yes, I've upgraded to the XA100.5 and used the same VSA Unifield 2s on the 100.5 and 60.5.

What I felt from different amps on the same speaker, the 100.5 sure have more headroom, and sounds less congested when playing heavy tracks(classical and live rock concert). The beautiful mids are similar to the 60.5 but do feel there's slightly more definition and resolution with the 100.5 on the mids and highs hence the soundstage sounds more focus. Some increase in width and height on the soundstage too.

Overall, the music picture portrayed by the 100.5 is towards a denser and complete sound if compared with the 60.5.

The 60.5 is a great amp, but with higher Pure Class A watts using the same design does better it and it should being a higher cost model.

If one can stretch, go for the 100.5. I agree from some of the comments I read and heard, the 100.5 is the sweet spot model among the XA.5 series in Pass Labs.

Now as they say, nothing is perfect. Coming to the down side of 100.5, I am always craving for even more resolution, more speed and a tighter and more defined low ends from them especially when I am listening for live music concerts on classical or rock. Believe this is the design and characteristic of Pass Labs sounding slightly layback with benefit of a more beautiful mids and highs.

I have since moved on and am very happy what I can achieve with the Soulutions.

Cheers

"always craving for even more resolution, more speed and a tighter and more defined low ends...design and characteristic of Pass Labs sounding slightly layback"

Interesting, because that is not what I experience. Not doubting what you hear or your musical preferences because you've done the comparison. But, I hear natural and flowing music. Pace, detail, staging, and lower end are just right.

Solution seems to make fine amps, too.

"Overall, the music picture portrayed by the 100.5 is towards a denser and complete sound if compared with the 60.5.

If one can stretch, go for the 100.5. I agree from some of the comments I read and heard, the 100.5 is the sweet spot model among the XA.5 series in Pass Labs."

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Exactally my fillings.

I enjoyed the XA100.5 very much until I bought a new pair of inefficient speakers and found the amps did not have quite the power the speakers needed. So I traded the amps in for a pair of XA160.5's. The result was a more open and effortless sound with a slight increase in soundstage depth and clarity. Bass also had more impact with slightly more control. There were no areas in which the sound got worse. But they are heavier and hotter, take up more space and use more energy.

Perhaps the 10.5 is the sweet spot, but if one needs more power, I'd recommend as much class A power as one can afford. There does not seem to be a sonic price as you go up the XA.5 line.

I would expect all those benefits when you move from an underpowered amp
for one with the power necessary to drive a given speaker. But I'm not sure how
you know there is no sonic price driving a speaker that can easily be driven by
an XA30.5 and then driven by the 160.5 - let's say a speaker with 94db
sensitivity - I suspect, but cannot prove it since I have not tried it, that there is
a sonic price to be paid for those extra watts, when those extra watts serve no
real world purpose in being able to drive the speaker loud and with bass
control.

In your case the sonic penalty is paid when trying to drive a speaker that needs
more power than you had with the XA100.5, and when you need more power I
would not expect a sonic price being paid by adding the higher powered amp, it
is the wattage you need to make the speaker come alive and a lack of power is a
much higher price to pay than a lessening of purity due to all the added
electronics need for higher output..

However, at any power level, I think the XA.5 series is among the best sounding
SS amps available - they are all excellent IMHO. The changes you can expect in
moving from the 60 watt version and 100 watt version will depend on the
speaker being driven,