Fist Watt F6 vs Pass Labs XA 25

buy the F8 or the XA25.

@chorus  OK could you elaborate that a bit? And are you able to compare them with the F6? 

Not heard the F6 or 8. reviews say 8 is big jump up.

SIT 3 is the FW to own per experts.

XA25 used is cheaper. Owned that and went to the INT25.

Not sure what your speakers require in power but the Pass

measures much more wpc than FW.

FW probably won’t,unless you’re running 95db or higher speakers, get you to ear bleed volume.  However, owning a couple FW amps with some relatively easy to drive speakers,they are spectacular at what they do. I have an F5,and when I decided to get a second FW amp,I was considering the F6,F7,or J2. I ended up purchasing a lightly used J2.  I absolutely love it. I do still wonder what the F6,or F7 would have sounded in my systems,but no regrets.  Think about what your needs are as far as volume.  I listen at mid to low levels,and FW never disappoints. 

I owned the XA25 and now the SIT3. I had these both side by side for 6 months before I decided to keep the SIT3. 
The XA25 has more drive and is quite neutral sounding..  A bit flat compared to the SIT3, but a better match if your speakers are not efficient. 

The F8 was designed to replace the J2 and is bit different sonically according to FW documentation. One of Nelsons partners, Joe Summat, who sadly passed on a few years back and was the “keen” hearing guru at Pass labs said the F8 was the best sounding amp of the FW lineup. This was 6 years ago when it was designed and recently put in production.  
I love how each FW amp is a different flavor and needs the right pairing of speakers to get the most from it..  

For those who don't know,,,,Joe Summat is Mark at Reno HiFi's father.

I asked Mark about his father,and he had some great stories.

FW > Pass 

I’d look at the Clayton Audio S40 before the XA25.  It’s double the power into both 4 and 8 Ohms over the Pass and costs $400 less, and it probably sounds even better.  Just not as much press.  My $0.02 FWIW. 

But does the Clayton slide into class A/B and then provide 80w into 8 ohms and 130 into 4?

What fist watt? That good with my schlockport?

But does the Clayton slide into class A/B and then provide 80w into 8 ohms and 130 into 4?

No, but at 50wpc and 100wpc into 8 and 4 Ohms, respectively, you get to stay in full Class A for all listening.  Personally, I’d have to really need those extra 30wpc to go with the Pass, but that’s me. 

@keithr 

The XA25 is quite different compared to the other Pass amps. Those who never heard it sometimes generalize the sound. It’s quite different in that it only uses 1 pair of puck sized output transistors per channel vs the more typical 14 pairs per side in parallel, like the XA30.8 uses. 
The output side in the XA25 is also directly connected , shorter path to output, which removes many resistors and other parts in the signal path.  It sounds different from the others in the XA lineup, from my experiences..

@tubebuffer 

how sensitive are your speakers? And their configuration?

@mikem I've actually owned the XA25, tried in multiple systems, and my comment stands. In FW land, only have heard the SIT3 not the newer F8 though. 

I don't have the XA 25 but I do have the 30.8, the F6 and the J2.  I like them all I think the F6 has the most delicate sound.  The 30.8 sounds like it's 3X as powerful as either of the first watts but maybe a little more harshness to the sound but much bigger sound and more bass.  They each have their own flavor and it depends a lot on the speakers that are being used.  I can get good volume out of the super power hungry Maggie LRS with the 30.8.  The F6 and J2 can't hang with the LRS.  with something way more efficient I like the sound of the F6 better and for that matter I far prefer the Decware Zen triode 2 watt amp to any of these with super efficient speakers.  

@ejlif  I am in the process of building in F6 amp, what speakers do you think sounds best with it? Or perhaps I should ask what have you had the chance to use with yours?

I have used the F6 with only Klipsch.  The forte III, Cornwall IV and vintage la scala.  I like it best with La Scala, those are the most efficient of the bunch and the F6 has plenty of power for those speakers. I feel like it's not the most ballsy of amps but is very smooth and even tubelike compared to the J2 or 30.8.  The F6 is a sweet amp just not the most powerful sounding but for the right music and the right system and room size it could be just right.