Pass Labs amp longevity? Especially curious about the long term reliability of their Class A amps?

joeinid

joeinid

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I know from personal use and friends having Pass Labs amps that they are very reliable. Some of us, cough cough, don't hold on to gear very long.

Could these amps last for 5, 10, 15+ years with daily use? Has anyone here needed to have their amps biased or adjusted during their lifetime?

I ask because of a few friends experience with Burmester amps. I sold mine because my friends amps needed biasing and let's just say that service was not as kind/responsive as the spectacular service I and friends have received from Pass Labs.

I've never kept anything more than a few years and wonder how a hot running amp fares over the long haul and what's needed to keep it in tip top shape.

Thoughts?
 
According to Pass, their amps can last 5,10, 15+ years in continuous (i.e. never turned off) use. I don't have any reason to doubt them.
 
I kept my Pass XA 100.5 happily for 7 years without any issues. Since the beginning both mono blocks were a bit too much biased into class A (meter at 11.30 in stead of 12.00) without any issue on the sound obviously. The bias never changed over the years.




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I see no reason why they shouldn't keep going for many long years. The guy who designs them, some guy named Nelson something or another, yeah, I heard he knows his stuff.

I had a X350.8, but some guy bought it on the spot on Saturday. Some guy named Mark. Some guy on our forum. MDP. But fail not, another has been ordered!

I will say this - the X350.8 is the best amp I've ever owned in the $14-20k range.

It drives any speaker, has sweetness, speed, amazing bass control, gorgeous mids, top build quality, a pretty blue meter, creates a HUGE soundstage and does NOTHING wrong. NOTHING.

With the M3's and S3 mk2's, maybe even S5 mk2's, I doubt it ever leaves class A.

I just wish I had my ARC REF5SE to pair with it.


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When the dust settles, the X350.8 is HIGH on my list. I hear my friend Bruce's amp all the time. Damn, what a sweet, powerful, airy, three dimensional and wonderful amp. Yes, it gets warm and yes it's worth it. Just looking for others experience. Thanks!
 
Mike said:
I will say this - the X350.8 is the best amp I've ever owned in the $14-20k range.

It drives any speaker, has sweetness, speed, amazing bass control, gorgeous mids, top build quality, a pretty blue meter, creates a HUGE soundstage and does NOTHING wrong. NOTHING.

With the M3's and S3 mk2's, maybe even S5 mk2's, I doubt it ever leaves class A.

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Click to expand...

Mike, can you stop it please [emoji3] - just upgrading the S3s.


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I was told that if one sends an amp back to Pass for repair, they simply fix it on the spot and there is no wait because it is such a rare occurrence. Pass service is extraordinary and I have the feeling that very few items are ever returned for adjustment or repair.

I have had my current XA160.5s now for 7+ years. Not a single problem ever with daily use.
 
In the past we have used a variety of Pass X-series amps and preamps with absolutely no issues. I think the longest we ran one particular unit was about 5 years, so it doesn't hit your ask for longer periods, but again, all units were rock solid during their entire tenure.

And yes, Mike, the X350.8 is a rare gem in its category. A steal IMHO.
 
My Pass gear is entering year 5, and no issues so far. However, I have noticed that earlier the amps had to run 24 hours or so to sound the best, but now seem to get there in around 5 hours. Or maybe my hearing has just deteriorated enough so it sounds that way. :)
 
BlueFox said:
....I have noticed that earlier the amps had to run 24 hours or so to sound the best, but now seem to get there in around 5 hours....
Click to expand...

I've been dealing with healthcare legislation arguments all day, so maybe my mind's a bit fuzzy....do you have to have your amp on for 5 hrs before it reaches optimal sonics, or does it have to be playing music for that long first?

I have their INT-250 that I shut down every night when going to bed, and I'm not aware of much dramatic sonic improvement over any amount of time after I fire her up the next day; she sounds fairly spectacular from the get go. Then again, I've never noticed much improvement after a red wine has been allowed to 'breath' either, so maybe I'm just sensory challenged.
 
INT-250 is Class AB. The AB amps don't seem to have the same warm-up requirements as the Class A amps, which definitely need some amount of time on to sound their best. To me, there are actually two points in time where the sound improves - after 30 minutes to an hour the size of the soundstage blooms and the perceived volume increases. Some time after that, depending on what you're listening to and at what volume, the warmth of the amps blooms as well. I've noted this effect with Point 5, Point 8, and XS series Class A amps.
 
I allow my XA160.5 amps to warm up 4-5 hours and then play music for about a hour and then they are ready! I purchased my amps in 2009 and experience no issues.
 
aardvarkbark said:
I've been dealing with healthcare legislation arguments all day, so maybe my mind's a bit fuzzy....do you have to have your amp on for 5 hrs before it reaches optimal sonics, or does it have to be playing music for that long first?

I have their INT-250 that I shut down every night when going to bed, and I'm not aware of much dramatic sonic improvement over any amount of time after I fire her up the next day; she sounds fairly spectacular from the get go. Then again, I've never noticed much improvement after a red wine has been allowed to 'breath' either, so maybe I'm just sensory challenged.
Click to expand...

I start playing music right after turning the amps on. No sense in wasting electrons. :)
 
Audioseduction said:
I allow my XA160.5 amps to warm up 4-5 hours and then play music for about a hour and then they are ready! I purchased my amps in 2009 and experience no issues.
Click to expand...

XA160.5/XP20 is a great combination. I turn mine on ahead of time, 1-4 hours depending on the season, and then listen for a while. The sound does improve. In the winter months, I may keep them on for the entire weekend and turn off the heat in my listening room. I almost never listen right after turning them on.
 
I hope my 350.8 lasts a very long time. I can't imagine what could beat it anywhere near it's price point. I'm loving it with my Salon 2s. My Pass and my Salons are going nowhere.
 
joeinid said:
When the dust settles, the X350.8 is HIGH on my list. I hear my friend Bruce's amp all the time. Damn, what a sweet, powerful, airy, three dimensional and wonderful amp. Yes, it gets warm and yes it's worth it. Just looking for others experience. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Joe....This is the itch you will want to scratch.
 
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