have owned X250.8 for a number of years. Had Threshold 4000 for several decades before it. Both built like tanks and reliable. Both operate warm to the touch, not really hot. Always in large rooms in florida, never found heat to be a problem....
Pass Labs Amps - Does the heat bother you?
I am very intrigued by pass amplifiers (NOT the intergateds). I have heard many good things about them. However, I also have heard from many people that they get really hot. I am interested in the stereo amps.... like the X350.
Curious, if you own one or used to own one... how do/did you deal with the heat? I wouldn’t want it heating up my living room where the AC runs more (which kills my music enjoyment session).
Also, I usually leave my amp on from 5:00 pm till I go to bed (anywhere from 9:00 pm to 12 am). Not sure how that would come into play if a pass labs would be a good fit for me.
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Case in point: https://liquidaudio.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Plinius_Model_10_monoblock.pdf The top paragraph of page 2 is directly relevant to this conversation. |
2 days and 45 posts and nothing from the OP, yet here we are... So...I'm curious why would anyone leave an amp running constantly (unless it was recommended explicitly in the IFU)? Also why not add a fan? T+A advised no fan needed if proper clearance was provided but no reason not to help the amp run a little cooler. |
@OP - there is absolutely no need to leave power amps on permanently. As to your question, the X Series Passlabs amps have a negligible impact on ambient temperature. The XA series run warm - the 60.8's dissipate close to 400W per chassis. They are very well heatsinked so not an issue in terms of reliability. The XA amplifiers deliver 90 percent of their sound quality after 60mins of warm up and 100 percent after two hours. If you are bothered about heat, get the X series amplifiers. All of the Passlabs amplifiers are superb in terms of sonic performance. |
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