madfloyd
New member
Well in any case they are getting better every day. They've really opened up. By Wednesday they should be ready for serious listening.
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Anyone Hear the New .8 Amps Yet
- Thread starter MDP
- Start date
Great to hear Ian. Are you ready to offer any comparisons to the XA160.5's?
madfloyd
New member
That wouldn't be fair. I'm hearing the new amps with different cables (which I was breaking in at the same time) and Stillpoints on my speakers. I'll have to go back to the old amps once these are broken in and compare.
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madfloyd
New member
That's exactly what I plan to do since I will be deciding between them.
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FlexibleAudio
Member
Ian, Very keen to hear your results. My new Pass amps are still unopened in boxes from my dealer. I have option to exchange for full year to XA200.8's and I am dying to get a first hand review. Standing by.....:exciting:
madfloyd
New member
Well I have tomorrow off and the amps will be broken in. All I have to do now is figure out to remove stuck Stillpoint adapters from my speakers or there will be no music playing. 
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Stuck? What happened?
Did you leave a credit card gap between the top of the Stillpoint and the bottom of the speaker?
Did you leave a credit card gap between the top of the Stillpoint and the bottom of the speaker?
madfloyd
New member
You know how the Alexia thread holes are tight and you had to use an allen key to get some of the spike screws in? Well unlike the Alexia spike screws which have an allen key indent so you can get them in and out, the Stillpoints do not. So once installed, there's no easy way to take the Stillpoints out of the Alexias (unless you got lucky and none of your screw holes are tight). Half of mine are tight.
I had to use a vice grips VERY tight and use a lot of torque to get these suckers out, completely destroying the threading on the Stillpoint adapters. Took a while...
madfloyd
New member
OK, so here's the latest. I had the day off yesterday but my ears didn't cooperate. They were blocked pretty good and all I could hear was bass (I can't tell you how frustrating that is being an audiophile!). They cleared up around 5pm and I got to listen for a couple hours but didn't try to switch amps and do a real comparison as I knew there wasn't enough time.
I have at least one other audiophile (another XA160.5 owner) coming to join me tomorrow evening to do a shootout between the two amps. Hopefully another audiophile friend with good ears will join us as well.
I'm starting to form my own picture of what I think is different between the two amps but because my system dramatically changed when I installed Shunyata power cables (about a week before getting the new amps) I want to listen to the .5's again to make sure I'm not imagining this, but I'm hearing a lot more upper frequency energy in the .8's. Maybe a little too much in the lower treble/upper mids for my liking.
In any case, I'll update this thread again on Saturday. Sorry it's been so slow going.
I have at least one other audiophile (another XA160.5 owner) coming to join me tomorrow evening to do a shootout between the two amps. Hopefully another audiophile friend with good ears will join us as well.
I'm starting to form my own picture of what I think is different between the two amps but because my system dramatically changed when I installed Shunyata power cables (about a week before getting the new amps) I want to listen to the .5's again to make sure I'm not imagining this, but I'm hearing a lot more upper frequency energy in the .8's. Maybe a little too much in the lower treble/upper mids for my liking.
In any case, I'll update this thread again on Saturday. Sorry it's been so slow going.
FlexibleAudio
Member
Ian,
Sorry about your ears. Anticipation is so high I think you could sell this review for millions!
Sorry about your ears. Anticipation is so high I think you could sell this review for millions!
The Sandman
Member
It certainly sounds like the changes you're hearing could be due at least in part to the power cables. I believe Shunyata recommends 500 hours of break in - did you use a cable cooker? For the purposes of comparing the XA 160.5 and XA 160.8 I would recommend either using familiar, broken in cables or waiting until the new cables are broken in and stable, and you're thoroughly familiar with their sound. Power cords can make a big difference, and I think the new Shunyatas could confound your amplifier comparison.
madfloyd
New member
500 hours??? That sounds excessive. I had thought a week was sufficient. I didn't use a cable cooker. In any case, whatever state of break-in they are in, they would be used on both amps so shouldn't be a variable.
The Sandman
Member
Power cables take a while to break in. But you're probably right... as long as the cables are stable (i.e. their performance is not changing during use due to break in) and you're reasonably familiar with their sonic characteristics as compared with your previous cables. It is a very tricky business trying to ascribe system changes to a particular piece of equipment when you've make more than one change at a time.
Audioseduction
Active member
FlexibleAudio
Member
Ian, sorry we have your xa160.8 comparison under such a microscope. Please be patient with us. I think we all all such big Pass fans we are very excited about your findings. I think Howard makes some good points. Remember too variability during break-in can be much greater even if you use the same cables. Just saying........ Good luck tomorrow.
I am SURE the new .8 amps will be awesome regardless if Ian "likes" them or not. I am realizing there is no right or wrong at this level. Synergy, personal preference and overall system integration is all part of the outcome. Even when comparing gear in the same system, it all comes down to what you like at that point in time.
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