Hi Auxinput,
From the Pass Point 8 Owner's Manual:
I recall seeing similar statements for the Point 5 series, btw.
Regarding the Plinius, I see that it can be operated as a monoblock in what is described as a fully balanced mode, if its input signal is provided in balanced XLR form. While also being operable as a monoblock in what is described as a bridged mode, if its input signal is provided in unbalanced form via an RCA connector. I would suspect that the "fully balanced" mode that is referred to in this case is essentially a bridged mode, but without the phase inverter that would be inserted into the signal path of one channel when an unbalanced input is provided.
In any event, regarding the OP's question I see that Stereophile measured the Aerial 7T's sensitivity as being 86.6 db/2.83 volts/1 meter. Given its 4 ohm nominal impedance that corresponds to only 83.3 db/1 watt/1 meter. Which leads me to wonder if the XA60.8's rated power capability of 120 watts into 4 ohms would be sufficient, especially if recordings having particularly wide dynamic range are to be listened to. Such as a lot of classical symphonic music, especially if the recordings are well engineered with minimal or no dynamic compression.
And relevant to that point I note that the Parasound A21 that is presently being used is rated at 400 watts into 4 ohms.
Although for several reasons I suspect the Pass amp can actually put out considerably more than 120 watts into 4 ohms, but that it would no longer be operating class A when doing so.
Regards,
-- Al
From the Pass Point 8 Owner's Manual:
... both the (+) Red output connection and the (-) Black output connection are live. There is no ground reference at the speaker terminals. The black (-) speaker terminal must never be treated as ground. This can be important when you are hooking up active sub-woofers to the output of the amp – if you need a signal ground connection then use the white ground terminal provided on the rear panel. The white signal ground connection is not a safety ground.Also,
If you are using RCA inputs, then you want to use the gold input jumper to short the (-) input (pin 3) of the XLR connector to ground (pin 1)All of which adds up to the XA60.8 being fully balanced.
I recall seeing similar statements for the Point 5 series, btw.
Regarding the Plinius, I see that it can be operated as a monoblock in what is described as a fully balanced mode, if its input signal is provided in balanced XLR form. While also being operable as a monoblock in what is described as a bridged mode, if its input signal is provided in unbalanced form via an RCA connector. I would suspect that the "fully balanced" mode that is referred to in this case is essentially a bridged mode, but without the phase inverter that would be inserted into the signal path of one channel when an unbalanced input is provided.
In any event, regarding the OP's question I see that Stereophile measured the Aerial 7T's sensitivity as being 86.6 db/2.83 volts/1 meter. Given its 4 ohm nominal impedance that corresponds to only 83.3 db/1 watt/1 meter. Which leads me to wonder if the XA60.8's rated power capability of 120 watts into 4 ohms would be sufficient, especially if recordings having particularly wide dynamic range are to be listened to. Such as a lot of classical symphonic music, especially if the recordings are well engineered with minimal or no dynamic compression.
And relevant to that point I note that the Parasound A21 that is presently being used is rated at 400 watts into 4 ohms.
Although for several reasons I suspect the Pass amp can actually put out considerably more than 120 watts into 4 ohms, but that it would no longer be operating class A when doing so.
Regards,
-- Al