Pass XA.5 vs XA.8

OK, here's what Desmond Harrington just emailed me about the INT60: 80 W/ch @ 8 ohms @ 1% THD, compared to just over 120 W/ch for the XA30.5 and INT30, which are much smaller, lighter and less expensive. The flip side is that even though all are spec'd for 30W/ch in Class A, the INT60 (and XA30.8) actually leave Class A at a higher power output than the .5's. It can be helpful to look at all the Pass amps as Class AB amps heavily (and variably depending on the model) biased into Class A.
 
Hi All.


After a period of 300hrs I I'm waiting to get those baby's to bloom. Have anybody experience in this Break-in period. Because I'm scared that my DIY Pass Aleph X will be better and beat this XA 60.8 after the break-in period.
I'm left for the first 5 days 24h on , then during 5 days 12h on and then completely off the wall. And now flow 48h on and then for 12h off the wall. And still can't find the magic.

My setup:

Pass Aleph P
DIY speakers
marantz SA11S1

If someone had the same feeling at breaking in please let me calm and share your experience.

PS: there are some times where I like the new AMP but this is not all the time and now even near my DIY amps. The dynamic is there , every detail is there. But real sound and the magic just isn't here.

I hoop they still haven't Break-In. I will wait more or will sell them. With the INT 30.5 I had 1 year ago it was better sound then this XA 60.8 The sound of my Aleph x and those of the INT 30.5 could take me another world in matter of 1-2 hours when they ware at good temperature.
I really hoop this will change in 2-3 weeks.


It could be that I was upgrading during the same time my speakers with Duelund Cast Capacitors and also my DAC. And they all have to Break-In at the same time.


 
Slow:

Power/Cables were the final pieces for me in getting a touch more body in the mids to complete what I was after. If you can get a borrowed (or demo) set, you may want to look there after another week or so.
 
mdkim said:
Slow:

Power/Cables were the final pieces for me in getting a touch more body in the mids to complete what I was after. If you can get a borrowed (or demo) set, you may want to look there after another week or so.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I had those connected with furutech FP-314Ag-II and swapped those with the originals from Pass. I'm little disbeliever about the Power Cabels influence. But who knows.
Or maybe I'm paranoid because my girlfriend says it's sounds good.
 
What 'magic' are you looking for - midrange bloom? The .8's are more honest when it comes to the midrange than the .5's which were more like tube amps in that respect.

And MDK is right - power cables will make a big difference.
 
madfloyd said:
What 'magic' are you looking for - midrange bloom? The .8's are more honest when it comes to the midrange than the .5's which were more like tube amps in that respect.

And MDK is right - power cables will make a big difference.
Click to expand...


Slowly I'm thinking that this was not that good buy because I was looking for some mote warm sound with some more slam in the bass region.
I will go for another 2-3 weeks and then make a decision what to do.
Maybe the combination of XA 100.5 and XP-20 will be better choice.

Or maybe I should try my luck in another model like 100.8?

I still love how they looks:
IMG_0315.JPG
 
slowikpl said:
Slowly I'm thinking that this was not that good buy because I was looking for some mote warm sound with some more slam in the bass region.
I will go for another 2-3 weeks and then make a decision what to do.
Maybe the combination of XA 100.5 and XP-20 will be better choice.

Or maybe I should try my luck in another model like 100.8?

I still love how they looks:
View attachment 12174
Click to expand...

Hi Slowikpl,

I have owned the XA-100.5, XA-100.8 and XP-30. Ian is right on the money with his comments about midrange bloom. The XA-100.5 will give you more midrange bloom and a more tube-like sound than the XA-100.8. However, the XA-100.8 will give you greater transparency, more robust bass, more current delivery and peak performance in a shorter warm-up period. The XP-30 will provide a more organic sound and a lower noise floor than the XP-20 or XP-10. So it basically comes down to what sort of sound you desire, a more tube-like presentation or more transparency. If you want a tube-like presentation, go with the XA-100.5 or XA-60.5. If you want more transparency and more powerful bass, go with the XA-100.8. You could warm up the sound of the XA-100.8 or XA-60.8 with a preamp like the ARC Ref5SE. The XA-60.5 will sound more tube-like than the XA-60.8 but less tube-like and more accurate than the XA-100.5, as it is the most tube-like sound in the Pass Labs line.

Best,
Ken
 
Ken has given you excellent advise. I would add that the biasing is different between the .5 and the .8 XA series amps and that, among other things, accounts for the sonic differences. The .5 was very classic "tube like" with a beautiful midrange bloom. BUT....the biggest downside was bass control. Bass was "puffy". So, like with most things, there was a trade off.

I've had the 160.5's, 60.5's, 100.8's (on loan), heard the 160.8's multiple times, and now, have/own the XS150's. I would say the XS150's bring the best of the .5, the best of the .8 and a whole lot more to the table.

There is nothing wrong if you prefer the sound of the XA.5 amps. They are excellent. I had a preference for the 60.5 and 160.5 over the 100.5 and 200.5. YMMV.
 
Mike said:
Ken has given you excellent advise. I would add that the biasing is different between the .5 and the .8 XA series amps and that, among other things, accounts for the sonic differences. The .5 was very classic "tube like" with a beautiful midrange bloom. BUT....the biggest downside was bass control. Bass was "puffy". So, like with most things, there was a trade off.

I've had the 160.5's, 60.5's, 100.8's (on loan), heard the 160.8's multiple times, and now, have/own the XS150's. I would say the XS150's bring the best of the .5, the best of the .8 and a whole lot more to the table.

There is nothing wrong if you prefer the sound of the XA.5 amps. They are excellent. I had a preference for the 60.5 and 160.5 over the 100.5 and 200.5. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Mike, how would you describe the difference between the 160.5 and 200.5?
 
PeterA said:
Mike, how would you describe the difference between the 160.5 and 200.5?
Click to expand...

I found that the 100.5 and 200.5 had a similar sound. I found they had the best mids and top end, but the bass was "puffy". I found the 60.5 and 160.5 was similar as well. The 160.5 to me was the best in the XA.5 line and the reason why I bought them was they had, of the lot, the best bass control. They gave up a smidgen in the mids to the 100/200.5's but gained in slight (and I mean VERY slightly) better bass control.
 
Hi all. Thanks for the advice. I asked mr. Pass what he is thinking about this.
My dealer says that maybe my Aleph P i causing this. So they manage audition at my home with XP-10 if i like this i then can to another with XP-20 or even XP-30.
I was yesterday listening only at good recordings and swapper the power cords to originals ones that Pass provided with.
My opinion from yesterday was that the amp is revealing much more than all my previous experience with AMPs. Maybe this is why I had some complains. The amp is maybe sound more revealing the sound and the bad recordings are just no more fun with it.
Do not get me wrong. I like very much the crisp nuances that the new Amp I reveling. Just hoop it will be later on more musical. Maybe ( like 60.5 vs 100.5 ) the 100.8 is better for me ? Have someone the knowledge of it ?
 
I don't know if you have thought about it much, but the .5's (except the integrateds) are being discontinued as of Sept. 1. Typically that means the price on the used market will fall, as will the price of new unsold units near to or after that date. Unless, of course, there are substantial numbers of people who decide they prefer the .5's to what will then be the only current offerings.
 
Thanks rbbert for this news. i was already aware of this because the peices for the new units .8 series will rise after that date.
I will keep trying my new AMP`s to wake up. Who knows , maybe I will have luck. I simply after the experience with older models from Pass Labs can`t imagine that this is that different AMP from .5 series.

Mr. Pass had informed me that I have to do some thinks to get best from the Aleph P series. Maybe this will help , otherwise I have to try other models of pre to achieve my own Nirvana with audio.
 
Is XP-20 that much better than XP-10? Most of my system has been updated in the last 2 years except the XP-10, which currently has a Hidiamond P4 PC ($2k retail) on it, powered from PS Audio power regenerator. I've been entertaining the idea of going to XP-20 in the past few months but have not pulled the trigger yet. One of the reasons is with recent refresh of XA.5 to XA.8 by Pass, I'm afraid Pass might come out with a new line of pre-amplifiers soon. But everyone here and on most forums seem to be really high on XP-20 and makes me "itchy". My amp is XA30.8.
 
Hi kzhtoo,

well new pre Pass are XS pre!!!:rolleyes: , new XS phono is too be released..... I dont think a new Xp2x in place from the Xp20 come ithis year or next too.....
 
db33 said:
Hi kzhtoo,

well new pre Pass are XS pre!!!:rolleyes: , new XS phono is too be released..... I dont think a new Xp2x in place from the Xp20 come ithis year or next too.....
Click to expand...

XS Phono just came out and I have it. It's absolutely fantastic. Anyone considering it should contact me NOW. Price is going up 9/1/2015.

7da194d8ef85bd184e9cb3abd036fd18.jpg


342a6501bdd18fe642a8cb19788587d2.jpg
 
db33 said:
Hi kzhtoo,

well new pre Pass are XS pre!!!:rolleyes: , new XS phono is too be released..... I dont think a new Xp2x in place from the Xp20 come ithis year or next too.....
Click to expand...

Any reason you think so? XP pre series has been out for quite awhile and I just feel it may be due for a refresh.

XS series is way out of the range.
 
Hi guys. I found my problem. I forgot that I dit make changes on my DIY speakers long time before I buying this AMP in the Zobel-network in my Middle Driver. I did change is back and I was sounding that this influenced my speakers that much that the ware dead sounding before that. Now the bloom is back. Not the bloom as my Aleph X , but the sound is already better then my AMP Aleph x. More accurate and neutral! His was what I was looking for!

I`m experiencing that the pointer moves 1mm if the loudness on my speakers is almost to the max. And this pointer goes backwards. Itthis causing by my speakers or power supply!? I think my speakers needs more watts, or I'm wrong? But also I hope this will not degrade my experience on my LP. If happens onley on very loud listening that I usely do not do. Do I need more powerful AMP ?

I found now that is even moves when there is no sound reproduction. So I think it's my supply of current.
The current is 236.2V - 238.5V

I can still invest more to get the 100.8 Can someone tell me some advice? It is not that that the sound is decreasing,but just mentally. What you guys think? My speakers are about 89dB efficient and if I listen at normal level the meter stays on the one spot.
 
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