Opinions PLEASE - Pass Labs XA-100.5 or X250.8 for Magico S5 MK II
At 88db and looking at this graph and Stereophile remark, I would go the XA160.8 min or the XA200.0. The XA100.8 will fine, if with a few under your belt your NOT a very loud listener/conductor/drummer/air-guitarist. " The impedance does drop to minima of 3.15 ohms at 78Hz and 3.55 ohms at 900Hz, and there is a current-hungry combination of 4.3 ohms and –49° at 51Hz." https://www.stereophile.com/images/217MagS52fig1.jpg Cheers George |
Thanks HK Fan and George, George, I spent all my audio funds and then more than a little more than I wanted / should have to get into some new Magico S5 MKII. They are dang expensive or at least they were for me. For me now at this point its more about rolling with my X250.8 that I already own and paid for or trying the older but intriguing XA100.5 as the person is will to do a trade with me. I don't listen crazy loud, its not fun that way. Just normal and a bit over sometimes, I knew they dropped down a bit there so wasn't sure these XA100.5 would work. Your detailed info is super helpful. I tried to put just the graf on here like you did but didn't know how. Here are the measurements that look like the XA100.5 may work ok? What do you think? Thanks https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/amplifier/power-amplifier/pass-labs-xa-1005-pure-class-a-monoblo... |
I wouldn't worry too much about the power need... the XA series produces significantly more power than their specifications. My XA60.5 drives my Audio Physic Avanti 3's to volumes that by exceed my threshold and never even goes out of class A... As long as your room is not an auditorium and you're listening to rock concert volumes, then you'll be perfectly fine with XA100.5. And I bet you're going to absolutely love them! |
I owned the Simaudio W8 and it was a great amp and I really liked it but it was no contest. The Pass Labs X350.5 and X250.8 were much - much better IMO. Not even close. No I am sure their newer models are better and I really love the Simaudio brand for pre's and digital but for amps I just think Pass Labs makes better amps. Be it his low powered creamy First Watt amps or his XA or X amps or his .5 amps or .8 amps. IMO they are in another league or maybe even 2. That said their preamps and digital are amazing for Simaudio. Simaudio is not cheap either. They make great gear but they seem to be more money than the Pass gear also. Built quality of both for everything is beyond reproach. My Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 Preamp is a former generation preamp and honestly it is incredible. It flat out beat out my Pass Labs XP-30, Mark Levinson No.326s and ARC REF 5SE and each of these I thought were the best when I owned them. I am amazed even today at how good the P-8. The stage just explodes wide and deep and it is so quiet and transparent and dynamic with just a dab or 2 of warmth to just burnish it nicely. It not thick or thin and it is fast and so quiet. It is the best I have owned and honestly I was not expecting it and it was a place holder at the time as I was moving gear around to afford ordering my new Magico S5 MK II I ordered last month and ended up with it and still today I am just blow away how good it is. This said the W8 was a fine amp. I bought it just because I was like OMG if it is anything like the P-8 I will be set. That was not the case at all. Two weeks later it was on its way. Again, nothing wrong with it and in a vacuum I may have loved but I had the Pass X250.8 which blew its doors off IMO. I am not saying to bad mouth the W-8. To be fair it is a much older amp and for the price the performance was really good but the X250.8 is a really really good amp. Way better than their price. I actually find this amp a true gem and a real sleeper and at its used prices of $6k - $7k there nothing that can touch in my option. It has a sweetness the bigger amps don't offer as much. I don't know maybe part of this is effected by the synergy of my rig. The combo in my rig punches way above its weight. Between my Simaudio P8, Pass X250.8, Bricasti M1SE, Magico S5's and Kubala-Sosna Emotion full cable loom as combo just kills it and can't wait until the next weeks when my new Magico S5 MK II come in. Maybe they all just compliment one another so well but Sim P8 and Pass 250.8 match so well IMO. https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/46190013771/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/45465885844/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/45465887244/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/45465887434/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/31250746627/in/dateposted-public/ |
Frank, I have had the XA100.5's and the XA60.5's but not with Magicos. I have not. had any of the 0.8 series amps. Each of the 0.5 series amps according to Pass have a slightly different character. The XA100.5's were slightly warm sounding while the XA60.5's were a bit leaner in the mid bass. With the 0.8's Pass Labs endeavored to give each of the series a more uniform sound. I thought the XA100.5's were excellent amps but not the very last word in recovery of very low level detail. I would also note that according the Pass Labs spec sheet the XA100.5 had a maximum amp output of 28 amps and 41 volts while your current X250.8 has a maximum output of 28 amps and 80 volts suggesting that it will be the more powerful amp and perhaps more dynamic amp. The X250.8 leaves class A at 16 watts. The choice of amps really depends on the interaction with the speaker. While I suspect that the X250.8 will be more detailed and dynamic but not as warm sounding as the XA100.5, Magico and/or Pass Labs may be able to give you the more first hand observations regarding interactions with the Magico S5's. |
