Pass....Accuphase....or......

Hi Audiogoners!

I need a new power amp to my Verity Audio Parsifal Ovation (18 watts minimum recommended input power / 8 ohm).

Have a Mark Levinson No.532 that keeps broking down and it's getting too expensive to fix in Europe.

Music: Classical/symphonic and jazz.

Room: 13 x 26

Preamp: Auralic DAC/Pre (but this can change....)

Ideas so far:

Pass Labs XA-25 (hype or really good and powerful enough?)

Accuphase A-48 (too polite?)

If you have a minute....I need ideas in that price range...+/- $$. Thanks!

southofdallas01-19-2025 4:12pm

hk_fan Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 484 posts 01-19-2025 at 05:58pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Pass would by my recommendation, but you should audition it with your speakers to verify that it's enough power.
erik_squires Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 16,289 posts 01-19-2025 at 09:05pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Pass has it's own sound and you 100% need to listen first, as some reach nirvana and others can't spend much time listening to it. Luxman and Ayre should also be considered. Ayre too has it's own sound and some fall in love with it. I'm on team Lux myself.
southofdallas OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 17 posts 01-19-2025 at 09:31pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I tested the Pass 250.8 at home with other speakers (Audio Physic Cardeas) but I was not impressed. I hear people saying the XA 25 is a different Pass. Can someone comment on that? Luxman don't have many power amps to choose from....i think. I play only HD-files from my hard drive so an integrated is a waste of money. Maybe a Pass HPA-1 can be my future preamp and I get a nice phone amp as well.