Hi folks. Great thread. I am pretty new around here but thought I’d chime in….with my experience using Pass Labs XA60.8 mono blocks and a Pass Labs XP-12 preamp.
I do not have experience using a Pass integrated or any experience using the 500 series Luxman integrated products.
To OP had some specific questions about Pass Labs that I can speak to from my experience in my room.
1) is one frequency a little more pronounced than the others?
Nope. The sound is balanced across the frequency range. The lower frequencies (say 30-50Hz) are just as present as the highs and mids. The lows are clear right and fast, and for some, the sound may seem to emphasize or over express the bass region - but I believe this may be due to the amps ability to perform well in this frequency region. perhaps because the Pass amps are stable down to a single ohm may help in this regard.
2) what is the soundstage like in terms of width and depth
in my room with speakers pulled out 7 feet from the wall and 3 feet from the sidewalks, the soundstage is deep and wide - almost 360. . Sometimes on I turn around thinking someone has opened the door behind me - but it was just the music! Trippy
3) How would you describe the sound in terms of Hi-Fi vs Natural sounding
loaded question as this depends on many factors. But for me, on good recordings, listening to piano and voice helps determine the “naturalness” of the sound. But again, this is more a system synergy type evaluation.
4) Do you find the sound to be veiled in anyway?
this is the kicker question. Here is where the Pass sound really shines for me. Transparency. I have never heard an amplifier bring absolute stunning transparency to the scene as Pass. It is spooky! how transparent Pass amps can be. Literally, hearing new details and delicacy in music I’ve heard a thousand times before. When I heard that …and felt it….I knew these amps were special beasts.
saying all this..I agree with a few other comments about the Pass sound that is a bit against popular commentary. I do not find the Pass sound, in my system, in my room, to be warm and tube-like. Mayyyyybe…because the midrange is so pure and the top end delicate and clear that that’s why folks are making this comparison - but the overall transparency, I would say, is the dominant sensation where you can literally hear deep into recordings like i never have before. I’ve never heard tube systems give me this sensation - mind you I haven’t heard $20K tube setups in my room - so perhaps my experience is limited and tube systems really can sound extremely transparent with tight fast bass and stable down to 1 ohm. Did I just open. Can of worms.? Hahaha
Good luck in your search. And as many folks have indicated - you can’t go wrong with either. 1st world problems…
peace.
