Anyone Hear the New .8 Amps Yet

mazzialk said:
The x250 /the int150/the x150x5 and
And they all just didn't do the job or didn't match in the set.
The only Pass I liked was the Pass ALEPH OS , that one did wel with the ML38S.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk
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Hi Mazzialk
i believe the Xa.5 or Xa .8 series is in another league compared to the X series. You might like these.
 
alfa100 said:
Hi Mazzialk
i believe the Xa.5 or Xa .8 series is in another league compared to the X series. You might like these.
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Hi alfa

I really tried to keep a pass in my system as I find them verry beautifull and impressing amps but (the old pass) just could not give the dynamic drive and speed I needed compared to some other amps in the same price tag.

Hopefully the New pass labs are a bit more vivid and "alive" with a bit more controle , speed and a dryer base.
I have not heard one yet but im looking forward to auditio one.
 
I can't really speak to how my Pass XA30.8 amp compares to other Pass models or any other SS amps for that matter--it is the first SS amp I've ever owned. But I can speak to how it compared to my formerly beloved Shindo GM 70 mono blocks (20 watt SET). It edged them out in my in-home listening audition that lasted over three months. I was turned on to the the XA30.8 by Jack Roberts' review in Dagogo, where, after much consternation that any solid state amp could sound this good, they finally replaced his long time reference WAVAC 300b amps. Mine were demos and supposedly burned in. So when I began the listening comparison I doubted Jack for the first time (he turned me onto to Hi Fidelity cables); I mean they were good, certainly better bass and mid bass authority. But it wasn't until I put another 50 or so hours on them that they began to have the air, depth, and this incredible tonal correctness that made me sit up and say, wait a minute. So back and forth I went, a little incredulous that I was seriously comparing this SS metal beast to my beautiful, glowing GM 70's. I won't bore you with other audiophile terms; suffice to say it got to the point that I much preferred listening to the XA 30.8 on all types of music. Honestly, it was hard to swallow, considering how much musical joy the GM 70's have brought me. Maybe the XA30.8 is special: maybe the more powerful .8 amps wouldn't be able to knock off a world class SET amp. I don't know. Nelson Pass says in the "white paper" included with the amp that each one of the .8's will have different characteristics--and of course different interactions with pre-amps and speakers. But his XA30.8 makes unexpected magic with my Shindo preamp and my Shindo speakers (over 100db sensitivity). They combine the SET type air, delicacy, and presence of the GM70's with unwavering control and tonal exactness that makes it hard for me to imagine there's a more musical amplifier out there for my system.
 
jazzmatazz - Welcome to AudioShark! I find your comments on the Pass XA30.8 to be very interesting, as I haven't yet heard their *.8 series amps. Based upon your description and the fact that they replaced your very highly regarded Shindo amps I look forward to checking them out when I have the opportunity.
 
Yep, I noted his review as well. I almost bit, but went with the 300b's I'd always wanted instead. Good review. Thanks!


jazzmatazz said:
I can't really speak to how my Pass XA30.8 amp compares to other Pass models or any other SS amps for that matter--it is the first SS amp I've ever owned. But I can speak to how it compared to my formerly beloved Shindo GM 70 mono blocks (20 watt SET). It edged them out in my in-home listening audition that lasted over three months. I was turned on to the the XA30.8 by Jack Roberts' review in Dagogo, where, after much consternation that any solid state amp could sound this good, they finally replaced his long time reference WAVAC 300b amps. Mine were demos and supposedly burned in. So when I began the listening comparison I doubted Jack for the first time (he turned me onto to Hi Fidelity cables); I mean they were good, certainly better bass and mid bass authority. But it wasn't until I put another 50 or so hours on them that they began to have the air, depth, and this incredible tonal correctness that made me sit up and say, wait a minute. So back and forth I went, a little incredulous that I was seriously comparing this SS metal beast to my beautiful, glowing GM 70's. I won't bore you with other audiophile terms; suffice to say it got to the point that I much preferred listening to the XA 30.8 on all types of music. Honestly, it was hard to swallow, considering how much musical joy the GM 70's have brought me. Maybe the XA30.8 is special: maybe the more powerful .8 amps wouldn't be able to knock off a world class SET amp. I don't know. Nelson Pass says in the "white paper" included with the amp that each one of the .8's will have different characteristics--and of course different interactions with pre-amps and speakers. But his XA30.8 makes unexpected magic with my Shindo preamp and my Shindo speakers (over 100db sensitivity). They combine the SET type air, delicacy, and presence of the GM70's with unwavering control and tonal exactness that makes it hard for me to imagine there's a more musical amplifier out there for my system.
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jazzmatazz said:
I won't bore you with other audiophile terms;
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By the very nature of this forum, you can never bore us with "audiophile terms." On the contrary, they will read like a novel. [emoji1]

Great review. Thanks for sharing your impressions.

I'm beginning to wonder whether those that do not find in favor of Pass gear feel that way only because the Pass gear they are auditioning don't have enough hours of burn-in in them...
 
kkfan said:
By the very nature of this forum, you can never bore us with "audiophile terms." On the contrary, they will read like a novel. [emoji1]

Great review. Thanks for sharing your impressions.

I'm beginning to wonder whether those that do not find in favor of Pass gear feel that way only because the Pass gear they are auditioning don't have enough hours of burn-in in them...
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Hi kk fan

Last pass I audiotioned had 10 year's of buren in on it and the one before that had 3 years on them so it could not have been the burn in time that didn't work for me, ;) lol.
 
mazzialk said:
Hi kk fan

Last pass I audiotioned had 10 year's of buren in on it and the one before that had 3 years on them so it could not have been the burn in time that didn't work for me, ;) lol.
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Hi Mazz!

Burn in should ideally be counted in hours.

Are you saying the last Pass amp had 10 years of USAGE or 10 years of OWNERSHIP? There's a very significant difference between those two values. It's important to know how many hours of actual usage the amp had at the time you acquired it if you want to know how much burn in it has.

Ten years of actual USAGE translates to roughly 87,600 hours! [emoji1]

On the other hand, just because someone owns an amp for 10 years, it doesn't mean the owner used it all that much. [emoji4]
 
Thanks, Bill.
I contemplated for a long time upgrading my Shindo GM 70's to the 300b's but couldn't convince myself they would be that much better for the additional $$$.
But interestingly enough it was another Shindo amp--the Haut Brion--that showed me there might be another dimension beyond the GM 70's. A fellow audiophile brought his HB's over for a listen and I was surprised to discover how much I enjoyed their drive and bass weight. They didn't have many of the SET qualities that the GM 70's had, but it planted the seed there might be an amp that combines the best of both worlds. Then, over a year latter, I read the review of the Pass XA30.8 and here I am pretending that big metal faceplate with the gauge and needle that never moves has tubes behind it...
Steve
 
kkfan said:
...I'm beginning to wonder whether those that do not find in favor of Pass gear feel that way only because the Pass gear they are auditioning don't have enough hours of burn-in in them...
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Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone has to like something, that doesn't detract from its goodness...
 
rbbert said:
Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone has to like something, that doesn't detract from its goodness...
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It's all about synergy too. Pass goes great with a lot of speakers IMO. But if you have someone who is a dyed in the wool tube guy, it will be a tough job convincing them. I will say the XA.5 series amps sure came close! Those were the first SS amps that really grabbed the hearts of many tube lovers.

How's the INT60 sounding? That's a terrific piece.
 
rbbert said:
Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone has to like something, that doesn't detract from its goodness...
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Agreed 100%

I was only wondering whether the required burn in has happened prior to evaluation. But, you're absolutely right.
 
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