Are Pass Labs amps probably the best ever you can buy ?


I have about 15k to spend on an amp/preamp/integrated amp.

I mostly listen to smooth jazz like Dave Koz, Rippingtons, Brian Culbertson etc.... and loud.

I have yet to hear any amp that comes close to Pass Labs.

Your experiences pls ?
128x128cakyol

Showing 3 responses by french_fries

COUPLE OF comments- A Pass integrated amp (and many others) do not come with fixed outputs. If you have a tape/ digital recorder it's not a good choice. Pass XA amps run VERY hot. Pass ALEPH amps run VERY hot. Some of their amps must be switched on by reaching BEHIND the amplifier. This can be extremely inconvenient in some set-ups impossible. The newer faceplates are much nicer looking than the previous design which was a total waste of aluminum and money (IMO).
The BIAS METER is completely unnessesary but it's still something you must pay for.  The wing style speaker connectors may interfere with tightening large cables. The old 5-in-one connectors were EASY to use.
(this goes for Levinson and Krell owners also). I like Rowland gear also and it runs cool. But it's expensive and the fancy "diamond cut" faceplates are easy to scratch up. But a friend has Aleph 1.2 mono blocks and although they are "not as good" as the new stuff, but OMG are they great sounding. I would NEVER recommend that he sell them.
But he did have to buy a remote switching unit because the power switches are on the back panel and hard to access. High end audio is a pain in the "neck".
I heard Cary SET's at a show and the sound was anemic. Little speakers
naturally.  I heard a demo at an audio meeting of a small-scale tube amp company (SET's) on a Livingston Taylor LP. They sounded very good, maybe a tad loose in the bass. It was very nice but I still like Rowland, Levinson, etc. VTL makes great amps but they are not SET's. Some accuse them of sounding like SS! I can only vouch for Pass Aleph amps
since I have heard what they can do in person. You can hear in a few minutes the "warmth" to the presentation. It's unmistakable, but you may not personally like them, which is fine. But you can fry an egg (well almost) on the surface.
Women deserve respect AND equal rights, but they may not have enough "warmth" in the midrange...