Amps in the same class as Pass XA.5 series

there are many amps---it's just the Pass XA series seems to be the amp du jour these days.

its going to be a warmer sounding amp compared to others as its mostly driven in Class A---more like the Aleph series of yesteryear

ultimately, you have to try several amps in your system to figure it all out---buy a Pass, Krell, and maybe Levinson for instance. there is not a best amp for every system.

i would like to hear what other XA.5 owners say about amp comparisons. have not read about many and all the official reviews really don't compare them to other amps either.

I'm not sure the origin of your question. Are you interested in other amps because you don't like Pass, or because they cost more than you wish to spend.

You can arrange for a home demo if you live in the US.

I would put my Pass amps against anything SS and most things tubed, up to 2-3x its price. If someone was to offer me the Pass XA200.5 or the Boulder 2050, I would take the former. So, yes, the reviews are true. And, no, I cannot think of another amp off-hand.

I have had six different Pass Class A amps in my system. My favorite is my current XA160.5. I have not heard amps from other companies in my own system, but I have heard a few amps in friends' systems and at various dealerships. I have been very impressed with the Spectral mono blocks and to a lesser extant with the AYRE monos. I'm sorry I don't have more experience with different amps in my own system to give you a better opinion.

I prefer my Edge 10.1nl to the X-600 monos I had.

Let me start by saying i too love PASS equipment. however, for example Rowland amplifiers run cooler, are more efficient, and IMHO bridge the gap between tube and solid state, similar to pass (Aleph) amps, and sound quite similar to one another. the classe audio amplifiers (omega) also are known to walk the line between tube and solid state "sound". BUT i do have to say that the NEW pass amps have an elaborate (and to my eyes) somewhat heavy and non-functional faceplate design, and also a useless bias meter, all of which the owner has to end up paying for. plus they produce a considerable amount of HEAT. design-wise i far prefer the grab-handles and elegantly simple design of the classic levinson amplifiers (23.5, 27.5), the lamm 1.2 monoblocks, or even the distinctive look of the older ALEPH amps (just relocate the power switch TO THE FRONT OF THE UNIT, OKAY?!). all i am saying that EVEN WITH the well-received Sound of the XA amplifiers, there are still some trade-offs that concern me.
AND one last thing- do they handle dynamics as well as the X-.5 series PASS Amps, and provide as much tight deep bass? could it come down to not only which sound you prefer, BUT on WHICH CD does one amp perform better than the other?