Pass Lab owners - Check in!
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New Pass owner here. Had been using Spectral gear, but problems with the amps and a four-month repair prompted me to look elsewhere. Cannot get new Spectral designs (the new 400SV amps, for eg.,). I had been using MIT cables, specially designed for Spectral. Spectral used only RCA interconnects. Have a long 12 meter run between amp and preamp. A 12 meter interconnect can be a very pricey component. But RCA was not good enough. Changed to balanced cables when my audio dealer found a new pair of 12 meter-long Cardas Clear balanced interconnects in his stock. Amazing. That made a huge impact on SQ. Now with these new cables, (interconnect and matching speaker cables) the sound has opened up in a big way. I matched the amp with a Pass XP32 preamp. That is a good unit, maybe better than my old Spectral 30SV, which was quite good. Sources: Spectral CD (SL4000) + VPI AvengerDirect TT.
I've written much--maybe TOO much for some folk--about trying to find GREAT-sounding monoamps for my new Sound Lab Majestic 745s.. I had gone thru several hi-end poweramps without finding one that sounded excellent...untill I remembered my positive experiences with a pair of X260.8s driving moving-coil drivers, specifically Vandersteen 7.2s.. I had changed some things, sold the '260s, bought the SoundLabs, and restarted evaluating amps.. Remembered the '260s, I bought a new pair. After break-in, they made the amp/speaker system sound like a symphony orchestra playing in a fine hall.. I'm very much a bottom-up-tonal-balance fan as Ron Resnick (above) is, and this combination was just right and highly resolving.
BUT...sublimeness is the enemy of just-rightness, and a used pair of PS Audio's BHK600 monoamps produced even more of that just-rightness, and that the sound quality did indeed reach the sublime.. But after reading about the XA60.8s' fabulous sound AND ability to deliver 150 Watts per chassis into 8, 240 into 4, and 380 into 2, all at 1% THD (measured by John Atkinson), I've ordered a pair.. I thinks their power 'limitations' won't matter much at my lower-than-average listening levels.. We'll see soon.
BUT...sublimeness is the enemy of just-rightness, and a used pair of PS Audio's BHK600 monoamps produced even more of that just-rightness, and that the sound quality did indeed reach the sublime.. But after reading about the XA60.8s' fabulous sound AND ability to deliver 150 Watts per chassis into 8, 240 into 4, and 380 into 2, all at 1% THD (measured by John Atkinson), I've ordered a pair.. I thinks their power 'limitations' won't matter much at my lower-than-average listening levels.. We'll see soon.
Hello
I purchased the x600.8 + XP32. Until I changed to Cardas XLR cables, I preferred the Spectral sound. But with the XLR interconnect, I now hear more from the Pass X600.8 than I did from the Spectrals. Spectrals shine on soundstage, transparency and detail. Pass X600.8 is no slouch in those areas, and they excell at adding more depth and upper and lower bass. ("More meat on the bones," as a carnivorous audiophile might say.). XP32 may be better than the 30SV Spectral preamp I had. Was very tempted to purchase the XS300, but the heat is a deal breaker. Pass says surface temps on those amps is 53 degrees C. My Pass dealer says he tells owners of that amp to turn on their air conditioners (plural) one hour before showtime. That's the only way not to drive listeners out of the room. Love the Pass because of the sound and the solid company. Nelson Pass is quite a guy from what I've seen in his videos. My Pass dealer has spent time with him and says he is a one-of-a-kind.
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Congratulations on the Pass purchase. You won't be sorry.
I'll preface my comments by saying my room is 30x22 with an open doorway about half way up the wall on the left side of the room but....
I've had the XS300s since they were introduced and unless they're left on for more than 5 hours or so I have zero problems with heat.
Even after 5 hours I can tell they've been on for a while but it's not uncomfortable at all. AC is only on during summer when it's hot here in Chicago.
I had the Audio Research Ref 600 and 750 in the same room prior to the XS300s and those threw heat, major heat.
I'll preface my comments by saying my room is 30x22 with an open doorway about half way up the wall on the left side of the room but....
I've had the XS300s since they were introduced and unless they're left on for more than 5 hours or so I have zero problems with heat.
Even after 5 hours I can tell they've been on for a while but it's not uncomfortable at all. AC is only on during summer when it's hot here in Chicago.
I had the Audio Research Ref 600 and 750 in the same room prior to the XS300s and those threw heat, major heat.
Hello, Frank.
Well, imagine perpetual summer in Chicago. Here in BKK, we don't have the luxurry of winters or cool Fall weather. This is tropical. So heat is a problem. But what you say is interesting. Pass is soon coming out with some new products, I've been told by my Pass dealer here in BKK. These will be updates. Pure class A, I'm told, and maybe there will be some reduction of the heat. The X600.8 will still be in the line-up, but the XA line will be changed. I will look forward to that and maybe look forward to a trade-in for these new amps if they are an improvement. Even Pass says that the surface temp on their present XS amps is 50+ degrees C. But I do trust the accuracy of your experience, Frank. As it is now, this X600.8 plays in class A all the time, at least at the volume levels I use. (That's what the blue meters on the front of the amps tell me.). No heat problem at all. But I am sure pure class A brings better sonics to the Pass amplifier. One last question: I see you are using Sonus Faber speakers with Pass. How do you like that? I've often thought of changing to Sonus Faber Ilium or Aida II. Pass should sound OK with those. What is your experience?
Well, imagine perpetual summer in Chicago. Here in BKK, we don't have the luxurry of winters or cool Fall weather. This is tropical. So heat is a problem. But what you say is interesting. Pass is soon coming out with some new products, I've been told by my Pass dealer here in BKK. These will be updates. Pure class A, I'm told, and maybe there will be some reduction of the heat. The X600.8 will still be in the line-up, but the XA line will be changed. I will look forward to that and maybe look forward to a trade-in for these new amps if they are an improvement. Even Pass says that the surface temp on their present XS amps is 50+ degrees C. But I do trust the accuracy of your experience, Frank. As it is now, this X600.8 plays in class A all the time, at least at the volume levels I use. (That's what the blue meters on the front of the amps tell me.). No heat problem at all. But I am sure pure class A brings better sonics to the Pass amplifier. One last question: I see you are using Sonus Faber speakers with Pass. How do you like that? I've often thought of changing to Sonus Faber Ilium or Aida II. Pass should sound OK with those. What is your experience?
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To me it's a great combination. The Sonus Faber is the only Sonus Faber speaker I've owned but I've had a lot of speakers over the years. The Sonus Fabers replaced Wilson Alexandria IIs. I had never kept a speaker longer than 4 years since the mid 80s when I started purchasing high end components. I've now had the Sonus Fabers for 13 years and don't plan on letting go of them any time soon. I added the XS preamp and XS phono to go with the XS300s in 2021 and have been extremely content since. I've had Rowland, ARC, Boulder, Sim and a few others in the system but the combination I have now seems to have cured my need to continuously make changes.
Thanks for your reply, Frank. You have a system I would love to hear. If you're ever on tour here in BKK, give me a ring and I'll show you around.
My XA60.8s arrived early this week, and they already sound excellent*.. If they get any better, they'll be dethrowning the PSA BHK600 monoamps.
* to me, at least, but what do I know? I'm NOT a GEA, just a music-loving audiofool.
* to me, at least, but what do I know? I'm NOT a GEA, just a music-loving audiofool.
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Hell yes!! My XA60.8s sounded good of the bat, then went a bit dark, to them 'emerge' after 4 weeks. Right now at 12 weeks+ solid use, they are heavenly. Seriously have no urge to go back to tubes or change them. The sound is very smooth, relaxed yet detailed and fast, which is a remarkable achievement as they rarely go together. Driving the Pure Audio Project 15 Coax, they are ticking over for seriously big dynamics, bass and room filling music. I would recommend these amps to anyone. Don't think as they are 'affordable' they are low-fi, far from it, more like giant killers!
A question on Passlabs amps. I have a pair of new 60.8 monoblocks. They sound superb. If they are on for say 6 hours or more, on switch off, the right amp gives out a 'clunk' noise about 30 seconds after power off. Then both are silent. It is a physical clunk, not via the speakers. Sounds like the heatsinks or top plate is moving. Any ideas?
I have the same amps as well as the XA25. It happens every time they are switched off. It's entirely normal - it's heat dissipation from inside the chassis. Only happens when the amp is hot (on for several hours).
I used to own the XA 100.5's. Remember, only shut off the front power switch so the main lights go out, but not the rear panel on/off switch. This will extend the life of the capacitors. I believe Robert Harley mentioned it in a review.
Yes that is what I am doing. Thank you for that I formation. I can confirm the amps are dead silent at the speakers, even if you put your ear right up to the speaker while they are switched on.
do the xs monos suffer any sonic consequences if they are stacked on top of each other like they were depicted in their brochures?
Thanks for replying.
Did you tried listening to them placed separately compared against them being stacked?
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