Pass Laboratories XA200.8 pure Class A monoblock amplifiers Review, Part 1

joeinid said:
Pass Laboratories XA200.8 pure Class A monoblock amplifiers Review, Part 1 - Dagogo
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Great article.

These are the amps I really want. However, Mike warned me about the "heat." The Pass X amps don't run what I call "hot". They are warm, not unlike numerous other A/B amps out there. But going up the line of Pass XA amps they do increase the heat level - even as the article brings attention too.

I have a friend up north that has the 200s. He loves them. However, at this point unless I move to Alaska for me the X200.8s are probably out of the picture.
 
I bet the big Pass amps are awesome. Definitely too hot for me now but appreciated in the fall/winter months.
 
My my, you're using the fan with a stock power cord?
No siree Bob,
in our end of the universe you should try an NR ( make sure it's v2 though), budget permitting you can try odin (again it has to be v2) or even the crystal ones...
at any rate they should go through your power conditioner...
and I for one would humbly request a shootout on youtube to see which gives better separation, soundstaging, bottom end....:yahoo1:
 
joeinid said:
Pass Laboratories XA200.8 pure Class A monoblock amplifiers Review, Part 1 - Dagogo
Click to expand...

Hi Joe,

I owned the XA-100.5 and the XA-100.8. I thought the XA-100.5 were far better sounding and one of the best amps I’ve ever owned. Once fully warmed up, it produced this amazing, tube-like Class A sound. The XA-100.8 sounded more like a good Class AB amp. Its bass was also way overblown. The XA-100.5 put out 300 watts of heat per amp, which was the maximum my 21’ x 17’ room and my central A/C could handle. The XA-100.8 put out 450 watts of heat per amp, 50% more. My A/C ran constantly when it was on and the heat was unbearable. I seriously regretted making that upgrade. I’ve listened to the X.8 amps and I think they’re really good. The XA.8 amps I don’t care for at all. No tomatoes please.

Best,
Ken
 
Thank you Ken.

I don’t have any speakers yet, that’ll benefit from that much power but Pass makes great gear.
 
Joe,

if memory serves me correctly, I think JVS also reviewed them for Stereophile.
 
Alpinist said:
Hi Joe,

I owned the XA-100.5 and the XA-100.8. I thought the XA-100.5 were far better sounding and one of the best amps I’ve ever owned. Once fully warmed up, it produced this amazing, tube-like Class A sound. The XA-100.8 sounded more like a good Class AB amp. Its bass was also way overblown. The XA-100.5 put out 300 watts of heat per amp, which was the maximum my 21’ x 17’ room and my central A/C could handle. The XA-100.8 put out 450 watts of heat per amp, 50% more. My A/C ran constantly when it was on and the heat was unbearable. I seriously regretted making that upgrade. I’ve listened to the X.8 amps and I think they’re really good. The XA.8 amps I don’t care for at all. No tomatoes please.

Best,
Ken
Click to expand...

I compared my XA160.5 to a friend's XA160.8 in my system with my old Magico Mini IIs. Everyone there much preferred the .5. Then a few weeks later, we compared the same two amps in my friend's system with his Magico M Pros. Everyone preferred the .8 this time. I think preference very much depends on context. The XS150 seemed to combine the best of both the .5 and .8 in my friend's system. I wrote a comparison on a different forum.

The 200.5 is quite rare and difficult to find. I could not deal with the heat as my 160.5 is tough enough in the summers.
 
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