Pass XA.5 vs XA.8

Chris - check out this thread: AudiogoN Forums: Comparing the Pass Labs XA30.5 to the XA 30.8

A group of us compared the XA100.5 vs XA100.8 at a friends place. ARC REF5SE preamp. Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers. WW Platinum Eclipse speaker cables and IC's. Source was a Meitner MA-1.

The .5's were the unanimous winner....but the .8's definitely had some positives.

The .5's sounded fuller, with a greater sense of tonality richness....definitely more tube like if you will.

The .8's had tighter bass, but more bass, which ultimately created problems in his room. The .8's had a greater sense of speed and dynamic punch. I personally felt like they sounded more like a traditional Class A/B amp....but with some nice goodies thrown in.

It definitely was closer than you would think. But, at the end of the day, with his associated gear and room, we felt the .5's edged out the .8's.
 
I'm not sure what actual Harbeth owners think, but based on my listening to Harbeth's, I would tend to lean toward the ARC REF75. You could take things up another notch by rolling the tubes in the REF75. And let's face it, that REF75 is a real looker.

Chris - do check out the Cary CAD 805AE's (you can buy them new on Audiogon for $6500/pair ish). Might be a good match for Harbeth 30.1's?? Don't know. But if you go Pass with Harbeth 30.1's, I would be inclined to think the 30.8 would do better....but could be wrong. Get both and try??
 
Mike said:
I'm not sure what actual Harbeth owners think, but based on my listening to Harbeth's, I would tend to lean toward the ARC REF75. You could take things up another notch by rolling the tubes in the REF75. And let's face it, that REF75 is a real looker.

Chris - do check out the Cary CAD 805AE's (you can buy them new on Audiogon for $6500/pair ish). Might be a good match for Harbeth 30.1's?? Don't know. But if you go Pass with Harbeth 30.1's, I would be inclined to think the 30.8 would do better....but could be wrong. Get both and try??
Click to expand...

Man Mike; are you doing a good job...spending my dough, lol. Let's review: a Ref 75, Cary 805s, Pass XA-30.5 and .8.

Unfortunately, only the Pass...are realistically in my budget. :( I'm giving myself a pretty hard ceiling, of $5k; and does it go without saying, more like $3500-4k would be even better...lol.

I'd s t r e t c h, as hard as I could...to land my #1 choice; the Ref 75. But it looks like, not even Gumby can pull that off.

30.8 would be at the top of, and 30.5 more comfortably...in my range; so I'm wringing my hands.

BTW Mike...that 219 in your avatar; is kick a$$!
 
Chris,

I'm thinking about the Ref 75 for myself too.

Have you heard the Ref 75?
 
joeinid said:
Chris,

I'm thinking about the Ref 75 for myself too.

Have you heard the Ref 75?
Click to expand...

Joe...I haven't had the pleasure yet. I don't live in an area, with a lot of hi-end dealers...lol.

As such...I've become the king, of the in-home audition (aka buying used on Audiogon, et al). For that kind of dough, I'd need to take a trek to Wilmington (DE), or the District.
 
Understood. I just fear it's "too neutral" for my taste. :)

CDLehner said:
Joe...I haven't had the pleasure yet. I don't live in an area, with a lot of hi-end dealers...lol.

As such...I've become the king, of the in-home audition (aka buying used on Audiogon, et al). For that kind of dough, I'd need to take a trek to Wilmington (DE), or the District.
Click to expand...
 
To Mike´s comment :

A group of us compared the XA100.5 vs XA100.8 at a friends place. ARC REF5SE preamp. Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers. WW Platinum Eclipse speaker cables and IC's. Source was a Meitner MA-1.

The .5's were the unanimous winner....but the .8's definitely had some positives.

The .5's sounded fuller, with a greater sense of tonality richness....definitely more tube like if you will.

The .8's had tighter bass, but more bass, which ultimately created problems in his room. The .8's had a greater sense of speed and dynamic punch. I personally felt like they sounded more like a traditional Class A/B amp....but with some nice goodies thrown in.

It definitely was closer than you would think. But, at the end of the day, with his associated gear and room, we felt the .5's edged out the .8's.

I can add:

I agree the 100.5 is more tubelike .

My listening impressions got some differences from yours .

After listening exhaustively the xa100.8 + XP20 + ATC scm100 speakers.


My first impressions are that the xa100.8 are among the very best amps I had at my demo room before. The


strenghts are :


-Sweet and very extended highs , got that result with SET ( tube ) amps only . Maybe the Reimyo KAP is a contender there .


-Holografic , very good layering.


-Soundstage , very good .


-Articulated and present bass.





Against the xa100.5 that I tested last month, I prefer the xa100.8 in all areas but the bass impact. The 100.5 were far more powerful in the lowest octave. Maybe


the .8´s need more break in .
After more than one month of listening the bass impression is the same.
 
lag said:
To Mike´s comment :

A group of us compared the XA100.5 vs XA100.8 at a friends place. ARC REF5SE preamp. Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers. WW Platinum Eclipse speaker cables and IC's. Source was a Meitner MA-1.

The .5's were the unanimous winner....but the .8's definitely had some positives.

The .5's sounded fuller, with a greater sense of tonality richness....definitely more tube like if you will.

The .8's had tighter bass, but more bass, which ultimately created problems in his room. The .8's had a greater sense of speed and dynamic punch. I personally felt like they sounded more like a traditional Class A/B amp....but with some nice goodies thrown in.

It definitely was closer than you would think. But, at the end of the day, with his associated gear and room, we felt the .5's edged out the .8's.

I can add:

I agree the 100.5 is more tubelike .

My listening impressions got some differences from yours .

After listening exhaustively the xa100.8 + XP20 + ATC scm100 speakers.


My first impressions are that the xa100.8 are among the very best amps I had at my demo room before. The


strenghts are :


-Sweet and very extended highs , got that result with SET ( tube ) amps only . Maybe the Reimyo KAP is a contender there .


-Holografic , very good layering.


-Soundstage , very good .


-Articulated and present bass.





Against the xa100.5 that I tested last month, I prefer the xa100.8 in all areas but the bass impact. The 100.5 were far more powerful in the lowest octave. Maybe


the .8´s need more break in .
After more than one month of listening the bass impression is the same.
Click to expand...

Thank you Lag; but another such shoot-out I read...said the .5 excelled in all areas, EXCEPT bass control.

Damn audiophiles! :notreally:
 
:)

The 100.5 were more powerful on bass area in my room with the ATc scm 100 speakers. But that no means them gives better control. The 100.8 were more articulated and thanks that it gets lower . Impact and control are not the same ....
 
Funny how we all end up with vastly different conclusions. I don't think it's the listeners (since the conclusions seem to be from a group of folks in each case), it must be combination of the environment and setup.
 
madfloyd said:
Funny how we all end up with vastly different conclusions. I don't think it's the listeners (since the conclusions seem to be from a group of folks in each case), it must be combination of the environment and setup.
Click to expand...

I think a lot depends upon the source. :)
 
Myles B. Astor said:
I think a lot depends upon the source. :)
Click to expand...

Yes , both of you are right. There are other factors that can modify the result. The test I did was in the same room and same electronics+ cables. The source was the Red Reference III player /DAC from Chord Electronics.
I passed my impressions to people at Pass Labs and them agree with them .
 
madfloyd said:
Funny how we all end up with vastly different conclusions. I don't think it's the listeners (since the conclusions seem to be from a group of folks in each case), it must be combination of the environment and setup.
Click to expand...


Just read your comparison on the 160.5 v/s .8.
I think your impressions are very close to mines 100.5 v/s 100.8 . The .8 has more control .
What is exactly I feel is about your :
" 5) The .5's seem to be very recessed in the midrange by comparison. "
Yes , the .5 is not only recessed but more laid back compared to the .8 . The .8 is not the "on your face" side but is more forwarded in comparison , giving a better layering and spatial resolution than the .5 . If you take for instance my permanent demo Chord electronics spm 1400´s ,both Pass sounds laid back in that area.

I can live with either amp any day of the year , please don´t misunderstand me . Great amps no doubt.
 
lag said:
Yes , both of you are right. There are other factors that can modify the result. The test I did was in the same room and same electronics+ cables. The source was the Red Reference III player /DAC from Chord Electronics.
I passed my impressions to people at Pass Labs and them agree with them .
Click to expand...

Yes of course the other thing is that a given amplifier usually sounds the best with its companion preamplifier (and vice versa).
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Yes of course the other thing is that a given amplifier usually sounds the best with its companion preamplifier (and vice versa).
Click to expand...

Of course , I did it with Pass XP 20 and Madfloyd with the xp.30 .

BTW , nice source ad system you have !!
 
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