Confession of a poor power cord pairing for a Pass Labs XA-25

The Pass Labs XA25 manual says if you replace the power cord, make sure it is good enough. This is Nelson's sly jab at after market power cords.

Nelson's power cord is "good enough." That's correct.

Too bad for Pass, I listened to him. Had I not, I'd likely have the 30.8 as my go to primary amp. : )

Thanks for sharing this experience, Coach.  I too have an XA-25, which is a wonderful amp as you know.  I've never tried using its stock power cord because it is too short to be suitable for my setup.  Instead I use a 12 foot Signal Cable MagicPower Digital Reference cord, and I've been very pleased with the results.

That cord is nominally intended for use with digital components, but I selected it because (a)I wanted the double shielding it provides, to prevent possible coupling of amplifier-generated noise into my phono stage which is in close proximity to the cord, and (b)the 12 gauge conductors it uses are fine in terms of voltage drop, given the 2 amperes that are drawn by the amp as long as it is not asked to supply so much power that it leaves class A (which means the vast majority of the time in my case).

Enjoy!  Regards,
-- Al

+1 Al.  I've tried quite a few and always come back to the Signal.  Not just "good for the money", but excellent overall.

According to Stereophile and others, Pass uses the very expensive Silent Source power cords to voice their products. I find my Pass mono blocks sound better with Cerious Matrix power cords than the included ones...

I experienced this exact same result with my power cords in the amp. Have some custom furutech based cords that greatly improved my coincident Frankenstein mono blocks. The same cords made the xa25 sound worse than stock.

As there is no real question here, may I ask the XA-25 owners:
-Did you buy thru RenoHiFi?
-Any deal to be had? (doubting that)
-How is the SQ? (As compared to whatever you replaced)

I am considering  the same amp.
I have 94 Eff. rated speakers so the 30 wpc should be okay.

My debate is whether to buy a used set of 60.8 monoblocks
or simplify with the Int. option. Cost close to the same either way.

Dave10- What did NP say? Confused by your comment. Thanks.

Gadios-
1. Yes I did buy through Reno Hifi.
2. Deal yes..  bought a demo for $3500.00. Since they were $4900.00 new. (At least I thought it was a good deal). I wouldn’t have known the difference from the packaging. I was also considering a First Watt J-2, for $2500.00. 
3. It replaced a Nuforce STA-200. The Pass XA-25 is much more dynamic, transparent. The XA-25 has found a home with me for the foreseeable future.
I do appreciate the interest in integrateds. The only issue with this audio journey for me, is the clutter. Integrateds help solve that.

Confused by your comment. Thanks.

@gadios Pass’ guidance (at the time) was to run my 30.8 direct into a wall outlet and to use the stock power cord. Performance is good doing so. They were not ’crazy’ re. power supplies/power conditioners and were hesitant (grudgingly, slowly moving forward in this area) about aftermarket power cables.

I eventually introduced SR’s PowerCell 12 SE into my system and using it with the 30.8 resulted in significant improvements in system sound quality and elevated overall performance. Same with an aftermarket power cable, in this case a Triode Wire Labs Obsession.

Had I addressed these areas first, I would have been much less likely to audition other amplifiers. Since other amps outperformed (to my needs/preferences) the 30.8 in my then system, the 30.8 is no longer my primary amplifier. For reference it was paired with the XP20.

To summarize, the Pass stock power cable can be surpassed. If you have a Pass amp you owe it to yourself to try different power cables with it and come to your own conclusions and select the one (inclusive of the stock cord) that works best for you.

compared to many others, Pass includes a good quality stock cord...but it can be bettered and Pass uses better cords in shows...which cord you prefer is based on many factors, but well worth searching out...

@gadios, in response to your three questions:

1) I purchased a new XA-25 from Reno HiFi. Consistent with their outstanding reputation I found them to be a pleasure to deal with.

2) Yes. I don’t think you would be disappointed.

3) My XA-25 replaced a VAC Renaissance 70/70 MkIII tube amplifier, which uses four 300B tubes per channel and provides 70 wpc. I use Daedalus Ulysses speakers, specified as 97.5 db/1 watt/1 meter, 6 ohms, and which have an extremely flat and benign impedance curve. While the two amps sound somewhat different, of course, I found that the Pass comes remarkably close to the VAC with respect to dimensionality, imaging, liquidity, and other traditional fortes of high quality tube amps. It’s a bit less rich sounding than the VAC, but I interpret that as an increase in accuracy and transparency, which is fine as far as I am concerned.

Among the various glowing reviews of the XA-25, the one by Terry London (Audiogon member Teajay) in hometheaterreview.com was particularly consistent with my findings.

I have 94 Eff. rated speakers so the 30 wpc should be okay.

Note that after leaving class A the XA-25 can produce much more power than specified. Stereophile measured 80 and 130 watts into 8 and 4 ohms respectively. The extremely tight distortion tolerances upon which Pass bases the 25 and 50 watt specifications also factor into the difference between the specified power capabilities and Stereophile’s measurements.

My debate is whether to buy a used set of 60.8 monoblocks
or simplify with the Int. option. Cost close to the same either way.

The 60.8 and the Pass integrateds (if those are what "Int." is referring to in your statement) are different animals than the XA-25, of course, and I would not infer much if anything about the sonics of those models from experiences that are reported with the XA-25.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

https://www.passlabs.com/amplifier/int-25

Hi coachpoconnor, I currently running a pair of 86db sensitivity speakers with a nuforce sta 200, and also very interested to get a xa 25. First great to know it's a definitive improvement! But I was wondering what speaker are you driving and if you think the pass will be enough for my speakers, they are scansonic mb1. Thanks!

@alfau7 No reason not to just ask Pass directly. They'll know better than anyone else and are a pleasure to deal with.   info@passlabs.com

I, too, got a XA-25 from Reno.  $3500 demo, but  you could not tell it wasn't new.  It replaced an Odyssey Khartago.  I love it.  Great place to work with.

I also have it paired with a Pass XP-10 I got used.  My speakers are Salk Exotica monitors.  The word that comes to mind when I listen is "sublime."  

I originally paired the XA-25 with Zu Dirty Weekends. I recently purchased a pair of KEF LS-50 Meta’s. I’ve enjoyed both and have zero issues with powering the 85db Meta’s. I believe Herb Reichert has a Stereophile review, pairing the Magnepan .7 with the XA-25. He had nothing but compliments.

If you paired with the kefs it's enough answer, tank you. If you mind, what sonic difference you found between the nuforce sta 200 vs the xa 25? There was something that the nuforce sounded or did better to you than the pass? Very appreciate your experience

Hmmmm. I am using a ZU Event Powercord with my FirstWatt J2. Sounds great. This has got me wondering about the original Power cord that came with my J2. It's still in its twisty tie.

alfau7-
First let me say, that I thought the Nu-force was a great little amp for $400-$500. Comparing it to the NAD integrated that I had before, it was eye opening, then when I connected the $99 Silnote power cord, it got even better. If your looking for an amp to push 4 ohm, or less than 90db efficient speakers, it ain’t it.
The Pass XA25 has dynamics, tone, timbre, definition, soundstage, transparency and bass authority in spades. The first Album I played was Vivaldi, The English Concert, the dynamics actually startled me. The timbre/tone of instruments was outstanding. Don’t let the 25@8 ohm/ 50@4 ohm rating bother you. I would encourage you to read the Herb Reichert review in Stereophile, for a more verbose account.

Very helpful information, Thank you coachpoconnor!