No, it has just over 6 dB of Class A/B headroom above 30 watts/ch, and independent tests show about 130 W/ch before clipping.
Pass INT-60 Review
- Thread starter Mike
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No, it has just over 6 dB of Class A/B headroom above 30 watts/ch, and independent tests show about 130 W/ch before clipping.
BlueFox
New member
What I have wondered is if the 'leaving class A' power is the same for both 4 and 8 ohm loads. For example, Pass rates their amps as X watts at 8 ohm, and 2X watts at 4 ohms. Then they say the amp is in class A for Y watts. Is that for both 4 and 8 ohm? Or is it 2Y watts for 4 ohms?
Part of my questions for Pass
KeithR
Active member
my guess is its lower than 30 watts into 4 ohms, certainly not higher. this is really an amplifier designed for easy loads in the first place- and you don't want to be sliding out of Class A
the "rating" above its specs is because it slides into A/B. stereophile noted on the XA60.5 review: "The needle of the front-panel meter remained just to the left of 12:00 at 8-ohm powers below 60W. At 60W it moved slightly to the right, reaching 1:00 at 100W into 8 ohms and 1:30 at 120W."
the "rating" above its specs is because it slides into A/B. stereophile noted on the XA60.5 review: "The needle of the front-panel meter remained just to the left of 12:00 at 8-ohm powers below 60W. At 60W it moved slightly to the right, reaching 1:00 at 100W into 8 ohms and 1:30 at 120W."
I just read the review. I really disagree with the early comment that the front plate has "simply classic lines". It is anything but. This statement stayed with me for the rest of the review and I had trouble concentrating.
I'm a big fan of Pass labs and own the XA160.5, XP20, XP25. I have owned many, many of their previous Aleph and XA amps, preamps and phono amps. I just don't like the looks of any of the integrated amps.
I'm a big fan of Pass labs and own the XA160.5, XP20, XP25. I have owned many, many of their previous Aleph and XA amps, preamps and phono amps. I just don't like the looks of any of the integrated amps.
- Thread Author
- #26
I love look of the two new integrated amps - especially the INT-60.
- Thread Author
- #28
Pics please! Can't wait for your impressions.
Pics will have to wait a bit, as will significant lisening impressions, there's a few days still for break-in. But I can say that compared to my INT150 this thing is a beast, about 30 pounds heavier and bigger in every dimension, in fact it's too heavy for my Stillpoints Minis (according to what the Stillpoints guys told me at Newport). And Reno HiFi is giving me a great hometown deal if I decide to keep it 
- Thread Author
- #30
Glad your initial impressions are good!
Two quick initial impressions.
The speaker cable binding posts are one of the coolest things I have run across on a piece of audio equipment. Super easy to fully tighten by hand; all amps should have these.
I'm never exactly sure how two amps with very similar specs can appear to have noticeably different bass response; in any case, I'm quite surprised at how much "stronger" the bass seems with the INT60 compared to the INT150.
The speaker cable binding posts are one of the coolest things I have run across on a piece of audio equipment. Super easy to fully tighten by hand; all amps should have these.
I'm never exactly sure how two amps with very similar specs can appear to have noticeably different bass response; in any case, I'm quite surprised at how much "stronger" the bass seems with the INT60 compared to the INT150.
I'm still a little overwhelmed by how much "more" there is to this amp than the INT150, both physically and sonically. The bass is one of the INT150's strong points, especially compared to the INT30A, but there's a whole new world of bass in my system with the INT60. The upper midrange (a critical area IMHO) sounds both smoother and warmer. To this point, I haven't noticed any dramatic differences in imaging or the higher frequencies; dynamics seem to be a little better, but that could be my imagination. What's definitely not my imagination is that the system now sounds better than before even using Duke LeJeune's test of listening from another room. Anyway, I don't think I'll be returning the INT60...
KeithR
Active member
are you going to try the other new integrated as well Rob? glad the INT60 is a clear upgrade to your previous amp.
KeithR
Active member
btw, did Pass Labs clarify the A vs A/B wattage for you?
Yes, sort of. Since they named it the INT60 and it will only put out 30 W/ch in Class A (at 8 ohms), they are calling it a Class AB amp.
Given how little the INT60 is costing me, it's hard to consider anything else right now.
Given how little the INT60 is costing me, it's hard to consider anything else right now.
kkfan
New member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2015
- Messages
- 143
So, no chance of auditioning an INT-250? [emoji4]
Not out of the question, but I don't have a burning desire yet. I don't get the needles of the INT60's meters to budge until the volume in my room is very loud; admittedly it's not totally clear to me how much power the amp is putting out then. The meters on the INT's respond to voltage rather than bias (as opposed to the basic amps).
KeithR
Active member
how loud is loud? the needles budge on Pass amps when switching to Class A/B right?
From what I can find out, that's not exactly how the meters on the integrated amps work; as I said I'm not sure how much power is being produced when the needles first budge. But in any case if the average level at my seat is about 85 dB (with peaks well over 100 dB) the needles might occasionally twitch.
