2. amps-preamps
  3. 164376-156954

Disappointment with Pass Labs - I'm looking for something else

Hello, I am new to this forum and my mother tongue is not English, so please forgive me if I make mistakes as I use a translator.

I recently bought an XA30.8 and an XP12. I was very happy but as time went by I began to not feel comfortable with the sound.
After doing many tests, I find that the XA30.8 sounds very very sweet but actually too much. I find it to be a loosely defined amp, somewhat muddy and lacks a lot of air and grip. The soundstage is very closed.

The XP-12 is the worst of the two. It is a previous that removes a lot of resolution and information, without transient attacks and sunken mid frequencies. Instead it brings warmth.

Has anyone of you found the same?

If you ask me, I have a Klipsch Cornwall and a dCS BArtok.

Now I want a capable amp, forceful, something warm, decisive, airy and with a great soundstage.

At first I thought of changing my XA30.8 for X250.8, and changing the XP-12 for a second-hand Audio Research Ref5. I am afraid of this change and continue with Pass, since I can go back to the same thing a bit.

On the other hand I have thought of going for a Luxman 900 combo, since it has very good reviews and from what I have read it could be the winning ticket.
opm
opm OP
40 posts
 
Thank you for your advices. D'agostino is a lot of money for me, I can't reach them. Outside the USA it is very very expensive.

Gryphon Diablo is much more accessible, especially in Europe and Soulution has a distributor nearby.

Can you elaborate on Gryphon or Soulution?
helomech
1,493 posts
 
Get a KT88-powered tube amp.
opm OP
40 posts
 
The only tube amplification that I have liked is the Jadis 120 monophonic blocks. Really brutal, an incredible push, an incredible detail recovery. But they have a problem, that they make a lot of noise while they are silent. Changing all the tubes is a lot of money.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jmarshak
157 posts
 
Hi @opm
I think the Pass Labs X250.8 / AR 5SE combo might work very nicely for you. I had the exact set up. Very airy, pungent and natural sound. Not too sweet. I don’t like too sweet either. The X250.8/XP-22 was a great combo as well, but if I was to go back now, I would gravitate towards the AR 5SE.

If you are really considering a tube amp(s), the Balanced Audio Technology tube amps are fantastic!

Good luck.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
30 watts is 30 watts. That being said, Pass is not the weak link. But 30 watts might be.. Just about zero in overhead.

I think with 40-80 watts A/B with 6L6 or KT88 valves you might really like it.. Because I’m a Mac guy and have heard just about every Klipsch ever made on them.. I say you picked the wrong amp.. plane and simple..

No El34, that won't work WELL, wonderful mids and highs. I use them with VERY efficient speakers, but NEVER bass duty.. KT88. 90, 120, 6L6 great bass..

It (the Pass) requires a VERY good speaker.  It would push a Tekton all over the place. Really not the other way around. A certain kind of amp will work better for the Klipsch. A MC240. a pair MC60s or MC275, would REALLY liven those speakers UP...

An A/B Pass would do it. 60-100 watts look out.. No class A, wrong kind of speaker.. Maybe 10-15 watts of A, BUT total of 60 - 100 watts at 8 - 16 ohms.

A MC240 all dolled up at 8 or 16 ohms will whip the pants off that Pass, I assure you on Just about any horn, like Klipsch or JBL.. They were made for each other... No need to reinvent the wheel.. A MC60 or 275 would match the SQ but NEVER run out of gas. SO in reality at higher volumes the Macs would outperform the 30 watter hands down.. I love Jensen Imperial too, just magic..

IF I was pushing a monitor section (no bass). That PASS, would be my go to amp, in a medium size room..
I just don’t like the price.. Though I love his products.. it's not uncommon to see 40K+ attached to PASS. No thanks.. They have NEVER EVER been that good.. LOL
YET I just sold a MC225 that I paid 1100.00 for (15 years ago) 3100.00 + Go figure.. Where will Pass be in 60 years?

Regards
More to discover