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 2 responses by redwoodaudio

Darren Myers, engineer at PS Audio, recently commented in his podcast that he has loved Cornwalls with push pull tube amps based on EL34s.  Worth a try if you want to get the best out of those speakers.
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.
If this is your experience with the pass xa30.8, you either got a bad sample of the amp or it’s your speakers.  My pass xa30.8 into harbeth 30.2s is the exact opposite of what you describe.  Pinpoint imaging, precision, tight bass, glorious soundstage.  Damping factor is healthy 150 I believe.
I’m going with a push pull tube amp next, but not because of any real deficiencies with the pass. Just looking for a different sound.