Pass Int-150 or Int-30A for PMC Speakers?

Fiddle, INT30A! That's one sweet sounding amp. I have XA30.5 and Desmond of Pass once told me its actual output is closer to 60 watts class A into 8 ohms.

Czbbcl, Focal Be and Pass class A are quite an amazing match. I had 1008Be and now 1028Be, both sets are driven by XA30.5. Meter rarely move (if at all) in my 18x25 room.

Kzhtoo

What are you using for a pre-amp? And what type of music do
you listen to?

Thanks Chuck

Hi Chuck, I have Pass XP-10 pre. My music preference are rock, jazz (vocal), EDM and some classical.

Thanks, How do you like the XP-10 ? Have you heard the XP-20 if so how do you think it compares to the XP-10? Have you heard any tubed pre's like cj? Sorry for all the questions I am looking into either an INT-30A or XA30.5/XP-10 or XP-20 with the possible exception of a cj tubed pre either the ET-5 or ET-3 driving my Focal 1007Be's.

Thanks Chuck

I like XP-10 a lot (granted never had a tube pre in my rig and that's one of the things I'd like to try sooner than later). Haven't heard XP-20 but based on my experience with the 10 and what ppl told me, 20 should be an amazing piece. Obviously XP pre-amps offer truly balanced circuits (and other benefits of having a good pre - soundstage, noise level, etc) over the volume control of INT30A or INT150, but it's subjective if the added cost is justified. XP pre also has HT by-pass, one of the features I need. INT models do not. One thing to note here also is it sounds better when I have my AVR passed through XP-10 pre to XA30.5 using balanced connection than connecting AVR to XA30.5 unbalanced directly. My AVR doesn't have balanced outs.

If you don't need HT by-pass and want to get an integrated than the separates, I'd go with INT30A and use the rest of the fund towards upgrading from 1007Be to either 1028Be or Diablo Utopia. :)

For a tube pre to pair with either XA30.5 or X150.5, I'd make sure the pre's output impedance is <1k ohm across the board (not just the rated output impedance).