New Pass Labs XA25

The XA25 has only RCA inputs so maybe a PS Audio BHK pre or Conrad Johnson preamp. OMG!
 
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I agree with Joe, PS Audio or CJ... ARC would not be out of the picture either in my view... but at this point the STP-SE is working very nicely for me!

And yes, I would think that the two amps would be very similar sounding. The features, many special parts being used and talked about, specs, SE inputs, heat sink designs, power, etc., etc. are similar if not exactly the same. I also assume both are designed by Nelson and the F6 was completed and in the market first. On several occasions it has been written by Nelson and others that design developed and optimized in the First Watt line get passed on to Pass Labs. So yea, I feel that they would sound extremely similar...

By the way, here is Nelson's description of the F6 to me:

"I found that it had many of the charms of the
other amps, but a nicely soft top end that forgives a lot of the top
end artifacts you get in today’s recordings."
 
I had the ARC PH6 and was a bit underwhelmed. There was nothing wrong with it, it was just a bit boring. The mono setting was nice though.

That's why I am thinking Japanese or maybe again an EAR would be nice. Have not heard CJ or the BHKs though.


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One nice thing about the STP-SE is that it has two XLR and two RCA outputs... so can do whatever I need :)....
 
Any experience with the Air Tight pres anyone?


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I have heard that ARC preamps are a little like that. I had a friend that tried one and has since moved on and said the same exact thing. Its is probably not all their products just a couple of their preamps.

I am a bit surprised to see that a Pass amp only have RCA inputs seeing that the other amps in the Pass lineup have the balanced and I can attest that the other Pass amps sound much better using the Balanced inputs as I found out with mine.

I second the PS Audio preamp as it has some great reviews and I have always like PS Audio products.
 
Yes! EAR (and Air Tight) make(s) great preamps.

Kuoppis said:
I had the ARC PH6 and was a bit underwhelmed. There was nothing wrong with it, it was just a bit boring. The mono setting was nice though.

That's why I am thinking Japanese or maybe again an EAR would be nice. Have not heard CJ or the BHKs though.


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Being that it only accepts RCA inputs does open up many more possibilities as far as preamps go especially in the tube world as most of them are only RCA outputs anyway. I would be interested in knowing how the XA25 sounds compared to the other XA amps in their lineup
 
The more I read about and research this amp the more I am convinced that it was taken from the First Watt F6, reworked and repackaged in the Pass case. And why would Nelson not do this? He owns and designs both. The First Watt is not designed for his commercial line, but his play ground to explore new designs. Naturally what is "discovered" in his experimenting and proven as examples of excellent designs would be made available through the commercial line.
 
Anyone have any impressions on this amp? Could be great paired with the correct speakers.
 
I want it for my AG's. You thinking one for your Avantgarde Uno XD's?


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Mike said:
I want it for my AG's. You thinking one for your Avantgarde Uno XD's?


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Yes.

I tried the First Watt F-2J very nice but think a little more juice would be nice.
 
Stout ! Notice the lower the impedance gets the more power output - 100 watt rated at 2 ohms, I like that. Should be a prime candidate for Open Baffles / Pure Audio Project style / Spatial, etc.
 
Reviews and measurements starting to come out. The current issue of Tone Audio has a sterling review although it isn’t listed in the TOC. Starts on page 52.
http://www.tonepublications.com/MAGPDF/TA_086.pdf

Herb Reichert also reviewed it in the Feb 2018 Stereophile. I usually enjoy Herb’s writing, but I can’t say the review helped me understand what the XA25 sounds like. Interestingly, JA measured it and it puts out a LOT more power than claimed: 80W into 8 ohms and 130W into 4 ohms.

The Audio Beatnik also reviewed it:
http://theaudiobeatnik.com/pass-labs-xa25-pure-class-power-amp-hpa-1-preamp/

The last English review I am aware of is from Steve Guttenberg
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-audiophiliac-finds-bliss-with-a-25-watt-amplifier/

6 moons has had a preview up for quite awhile. That review ought to be available very soon.
 
Thank you for the additional links and thoughts. I am looking forward to hearing the XA25. I’m sure it’s a wonderful amp.
 
Thanks Joe! I love my VAC 200iQ amps, but I’ve been looking intermittently for 10 yrs for a solid state amp that I could live with so I could give up replacing tubes. But I’ve never found a solid state amp that even slightly tempted me to give up tubes. Still thinking that one of these days I’ll make it to Mike’s store and listen to the Gryphons on the M3s.

But the XA25 sounds promising (pun intended). It may be slightly under-powered for my room and speakers.... Hmmmmm.....Only one way to find out......
 
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