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Best Pass Labs Amp with B&W 800 Diamonds?

Looking for some help on which Pass Labs Amps would pair best with the new B&W 800 Diamonds. I'm currently driving them with an X250.5 and it sounds really good, but from reading the internet is seems there's room for improvement. The combinations I'm considering are:

1) Buy another X250.5 and Bi-Amp. Read a couple of articles that says this is an excellent route and is definately the cheapest.
2) Go for power with some X600.5s (the .8s are still pricy).
3) Go with the XA series, like XA160.5 or maybe the XA200.5 if I can get a deal.

I really like the Pass Labs stuff, so I'd like to stay with them.

Any help is appreciated,

Kevin
mimskev
toader
1 posts
 
I just noticed your message - what did you end up doing? Still on the X250.5, or did you try something else? I have a pair of 800D speakers, and I was debating trying to biamp with a pair of x250.5 or x250.8 amps.

I have tested my speakers with cheaper amps, and I ABSOLUTELY preferred the sound biamped.
mimskev OP
2 posts
 
Sorry for the slow response! I spoke to the guys out at HiFi Reno and got a great deal on a pair of brand new XA160.5s. Love how they sound!

They were willing to work with me and even let me try the XA200.5s, but once I had the XA160.5s I was hooked...

One word of caution, these amps get HOT! They can easily heat my media room which is pretty large at 25' by 19'. This sort of scared me away from the 200s, but I'm happy.

I really wanted to try bi-amping by was told it's complicated and tough to do.
mimskev OP
2 posts
 
Just curious, did you end of bi-amping and are you happy?
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
Mimskev: Passive biamping is no big deal, it's not hard. Active biamping with an external crossover, is a bit tricky. Either way, Pass Labs has you covered as they make active crossover units.
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