Disappointment with Pass Labs - I'm looking for something else


Hello, I am new to this forum and my mother tongue is not English, so please forgive me if I make mistakes as I use a translator.

I recently bought an XA30.8 and an XP12. I was very happy but as time went by I began to not feel comfortable with the sound.
After doing many tests, I find that the XA30.8 sounds very very sweet but actually too much. I find it to be a loosely defined amp, somewhat muddy and lacks a lot of air and grip. The soundstage is very closed.

The XP-12 is the worst of the two. It is a previous that removes a lot of resolution and information, without transient attacks and sunken mid frequencies. Instead it brings warmth.

Has anyone of you found the same?

If you ask me, I have a Klipsch Cornwall and a dCS BArtok.

Now I want a capable amp, forceful, something warm, decisive, airy and with a great soundstage.

At first I thought of changing my XA30.8 for X250.8, and changing the XP-12 for a second-hand Audio Research Ref5. I am afraid of this change and continue with Pass, since I can go back to the same thing a bit.

On the other hand I have thought of going for a Luxman 900 combo, since it has very good reviews and from what I have read it could be the winning ticket.
opm

Showing 3 responses by phd

mikem, I thought I was the only one that was called an audiophool. I guess thats the way we all start off.
That's why we have an game because very seldom does one amp fits all. I wanted a Krell amp really bad but when I called Krell they said they would love to sell me one of their amps but with my horn-loaded speakers, it would be the kiss of death.
While it is true that tubes sound good with Klipsch, so does many solid state amps as well. Midfi, the slightly.warm sound of B&K does the trick, Higher end SS Conrad Johnson solid state sounds delicious. Mcormack amps nice! Don't use the High Definition Audio Research SS amps, a waste of time and money, too bright!  I like the high sensitivity of Klipsch because it don't take a lot of power to get em going plus they are revealing of all the fine details and its like being in a front row seat at a concert.