Pass INT-60 & INT-250 Integrated Amps

wizard

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New products at CES - INT-60 $9'000 and INT-250 $12'000.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

So these are both single chassis? Wonder how they are able to do that. Wonder even more how the INT-60 sounds!
 
Re: Pass INT30a

Something about the 60 is hard to figure; it's too small and inexpensive to be a 60.8A series amp, but it's significantly more expensive than the current INT-150. Maybe it's the integrated equivalent of the 30.8A?

Agreed. Maybe the "60" is for peak output in Class A, and therefore based on the XA30.8 as you suggest. That would make sense in terms of form factor and price.

Or they needed to name it something to distinguish it from the INT-30A.

Still want to hear it regardless.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

I'm guessing 60 watt class AB?


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The XA30.5 provides about 57 peak watts in Class A, then up to ~90 watts in AB (8 ohm, up to about ~130 wpc to 4 ohms). The .8 is described as providing more Class A watts (from the Pass literature, nominally 61 wpc), but no independent measurements yet for when it hits 1% distortion. I'd assume it's similar to the 30.5.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

It's not. One big difference between the A.5 series and the A.8 series is the headroom above maximum Class A watts. For the A.5 it is 6 dB; for the A.8 closer to 1.5 or 2 dB. We should know more soon; I'm guessing that it is ​the A30.8 integrated and the name is to distinguish it from the INT-30.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

Based on Pass Labs’ lauded INT-30A, the 60-watt INT-60 Integrated Amplifier provides wattage with finesse and delicacy surpassing its predecessor, and works best with speakers of 87dB efficiency or greater.

The INT-60 builds upon the INT-30A’s legendary “You are there” soundstage, offering spectacular realism, even with difficult speaker loads such as electrostatics or planars. The INT-60 features the same power supply and output stages, along with the iconic glowing meter, as found on Pass Labs’ Point 8 amplifiers. The new model features Direct Access buttons for the four inputs on the faceplate, a digital level display, plus a Volume Control knob and Mute button. On the back are four line-level inputs, a line-level output, and two pairs of Furutech speaker binding posts.

The new INT-250 ups the wattage from the INT-150’s 150 watts to 250 watts per channel. The INT-250 is optimized for greater versatility with speaker loads of 86dB efficiency or less. Like the INT-60, the INT- 250 features the same power supply and output stages, along with the iconic glowing meter as found on Pass Labs’ Point 8 amplifiers. It too features four line-level inputs, a line-level output, and two pairs of Furutech speaker binding posts. As with the INT-60, there are Direct Access buttons for the four inputs on the faceplate and a digital level display, in addition to a Volume Control knob and a Mute button.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

More mis-information than new information in that write-up. Oh well, not surprising from a static show report, I suppose.
 
Pass INT30a

I spoke with Pass yesterday about these two beautiful new integrated amps. The specs are a little light right now because they have not finished measuring things.

What I do know is this:

The new integrated amps are:
INT-60: 60 Watts and $9,000 MSRP
INT-250: 250 Watts and $12,000 MSRP

The INT-250 is definitely an AB design. As for the INT-60, stay tuned. ;)

As a side note, they are very proud of their new headphone amp. They said they were able to achieve the .8 sonic signature in a headphone amp.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

Now I've got to decide between the INT-60, INT-250 or the NuVista 800 to drive my Cremona M Floorstanders. This is a nice dilema to have and its nice to see all of these presumably superb integrated amps show up on the market in the last few months.

From Digital Audio Review (sorry, I don't have enough posts to post link):

Pass Labs launch INT-60 and headphone amplifiers at CES 2015

John Darko

Rugged glory. My direct experience with Pass Labs amplifiers sums to zero but Nelson Pass has a well-cemented reputation as one of the world’s finest amplifier designes. He’s the amp designer’s amp designer – that’s how Hugh Dean of Melbourne’s NASKA/Aspen tells it. Zu Audio’s Sean Casey is also a BIG fan. Michael Lavorgna runs the most excellent Audiostream Website and is also now a staff writer for Stereophile. Over dinner on Thursday night his enthusiasm spilled big for the Pass Labs INT-60 integrated amplifier, more than enough to have me lock in a visit to the Pass Labs room on the 34th floor of the Venetian Hotel the following morning. Of course, Pass himself wasn’t in attendance but Lavorgna might be interested in the new INT-60 integrated that doubles down on his own amplifier’s 30wpc…but without doubling up on price. The INT-30 sells for US$6000 whilst its newer sibling will retail for US$9000.

To spell it out in more simplistic terms: the INT-60 will drive 60 Class A watts into an 8 Ohm load. And simplicity is Pass’ thing; the INT-60 loads in only two gain stages – affording “improved gain management” according to representative Wayne Colburn – whilst borrowing the output stage and power supply from the Point 8 designs. The circuit is fully balanced. Cooling fins loom large on each side and out back we note 4 x line-level inputs (balanced and single ended), pre-amplifier outputs, a line-level output and Furutech loudspeaker binding posts. Much marketing noise is also being made of the front panel’s glowing meter. If there’s one thing audiophiles love it’s a glowing meter. An no, I’m not being sarcastic.

The INT-60 is assembled entirely in California and will be available “in the next couple of months”, according to Colburn. For those with more cash at their disposal or those with greater power needs (or both), the similarly new INT-250 will sell for US$12000.
 
Re: Pass INT30a

Now I've got to decide between the INT-60, INT-250 or the NuVista 800 to drive my Cremona M Floorstanders. This is a nice dilema to have and its nice to see all of these presumably superb integrated amps show up on the market in the last few months.

100% Pass. IF the INT-60 sounds like the 60.8, I would go that way. Pass and SF is a fabulous synergy.


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My sources have told me that the INT-60 will provide 60wpc, not peak wpc. This would make it not based on the standard XA30.8, and also not based on the 60.8.

I further asked about weight differences between the INT-30A and INT-60, but this wasn't divulged. Although one of the articles I posted reported an increase in weight due to design changes.
 
I'll be very interested to read and hear about final specs etc., but based on the physical layout and price I'll repeat that this really appears to be the integrated version of the 30.8A. It's too small and inexpensive to differ significantly. Although there could certainly be minor differences they would almost have to be minor.
 
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