Pass XA.5 vs XA.8 vs XS

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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Has anyone heard the Pass XA.5, XA.8 and XS amps? Would love to hear your thoughts. I love the sound of the XA.5 amps. I haven't heard the XA.8 amps enough to really form a conclusion one way or the other and I have never heard the XS amps.

But I'm thinking a pair of XS150's would be incredible on the Strads.

Thoughts?
 
I had the XA100.5's...they were excellent amps. I now have the XS150's...they are better by every measure. I don't think about amps anymore. They will drive anything.
 
rockitman said:
I had the XA100.5's...they were excellent amps. I now have the XS150's...they are better by every measure. I don't think about amps anymore. They will drive anything.
Click to expand...

Thanks rockitman. I'm curious....do you find the XS amps more ruthlessly revealing, or to quote TAS' Cordesman, "Good as the XA-160.5s are, the Xs 300s made them seem just slightly polite and forgiving in contrast."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Also - did you have a chance to compare the XS to .8's and did you compare the xs150 to xs300? Curious about the differences.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Mike said:
Has anyone heard the Pass XA.5, XA.8 and XS amps? Would love to hear your thoughts. I love the sound of the XA.5 amps. I haven't heard the XA.8 amps enough to really form a conclusion one way or the other and I have never heard the XS amps.

But I'm thinking a pair of XS150's would be incredible on the Strads.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think the Xs150s would be incredible with any speaker. Like Christian, I had the excellent XA100.5s in my system for a while but the Xs is in another league all together. Can't comment on the .8, I've only heard them at shows.
 
Mike said:
Also - did you have a chance to compare the XS to .8's and did you compare the xs150 to xs300? Curious about the differences.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

No .8 experience. The XS reveal more detail, are more dynamic and produce more realistic and extended bass. I did not try the 300's. The 150's are plenty for my speaker's sensitivity, use half the power and throw off less heat. If my speakers were in the hi 80's for sensitivity and my room was large, I would go with the 300's. As it is now, my bias meters don't move at the loudest volume I listen too.
 
rockitman said:
No .8 experience. The XS reveal more detail, are more dynamic and produce more realistic and extended bass. I did not try the 300's. The 150's are plenty for my speaker's sensitivity, use half the power and throw off less heat. If my speakers were in the hi 80's for sensitivity and my room was large, I would go with the 300's. As it is now, my bias meters don't move at the loudest volume I listen too.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Any thoughts of moving to a pair of Allnic amps?
 
Mike said:
Thanks. Any thoughts of moving to a pair of Allnic amps?
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I wouldn't mind a pair of A10000 mono's in addition to my XS amps. At this point I plan I sticking with Pass especially since I will be ordering the XS pre in the not too distant future.
 
I sure like the look of your tape deck. :) How are you liking it? Mine is getting closer to being done.

rockitman said:
I wouldn't mind a pair of A10000 mono's in addition to my XS amps. At this point I plan I sticking with Pass especially since I will be ordering the XS pre in the not too distant future.
Click to expand...
 
the professor said:
I sure like the look of your tape deck. :) How are you liking it? Mine is getting closer to being done.
Click to expand...

It is awesome ! There will be breakin involved for it to completely open up and solidify the bass. I am not sure how you ordered yours, but mine has the record and erase heads disconnected completely so there is no way to input breakin music into the deck via CD ect. For my configuration, breakin is only achieved by playing tapes.
 
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