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PASS LABS XA-30.5 vs XA-60.5

Hello all,
Has anyone heard the differences between these two amps, and have done A/B comparrisons on them? I have a XA-30.5 that I'm using with Totem Hawk Speakers. The XA-30.5 drives them very well, but I have been told the 60.5’s give you much better smoothness and cohesiveness, better imaging, better bass control, greater ease and greater resolution.

Here's the million dollar question:

I am ready for my next upgrade and have roughly $6000. Should I upgrade to the XA-60.5's or upgrade my Esoteric X03-SE cd player to the Esoteric seperates P-05 transport and D-05 DAC??

I have very appealing offers for both options.

Any Thoughts?

My system:

Pass Labs XA-30.5 amp
Pass Labs X0.2 preamp
Esoteric XO3-SE cd player
BPT 3.5 Ultra Sig. power conditioner
Totem Hawk speakers
AudioPath custom IC's and speaker cable
Shunyay Python CX power cords
roor

Showing 3 responses by noams

noams
16 posts
 
No worries, Audiofeil. We don't have to agree.
In any event, I also find the xa-30.5 to be a great amp.
noams
16 posts
 

I've been following this thread for quite some time. Let me first say that I am a very happy owner of an xa-30.5 - great amp with my 94db speakers.
To me, Audiofeil's statement clearly sounds like a dealer trying to aim for the sweetest price point. Rather than a sign of any hidden truth or anything similar it is the mark of a shrewd dealer. Whatever.

With regards to the issue at hand, I think that given that Roor has Totem speakers (4ohm, not very efficient) - his preference for the xa-60.5 makes a lot of sense. If I owned his speakers, I would have opted to try the 60s first.
noams
16 posts
 
Mr. Audiofeil,

Some caution is needed when reading your very decisive recommendation. With regards to Aliens,if you call business marketing an area 51 theory, than maybe I made a wrong use of the word "shrewd".
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