The XP25 is NOT part of the .8 series. The info I got from Nelson are those :Question :
Just found you have a XA25 amp as "entry line". It seems to be from 2016 but the name XA25 would make me think it is from the same generation than the XA60 so 2006 Is it the case ?
And how would you rate the first watt against the .8 knowing I don't need
power (my very old speakers have a 97dB sensitivity @ 4ohms) ? Seems the SIT-3 is almost sold out and the last SIT amp. So it's now or never.
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The XA25 design is different from theX and XA amplifiers previously. It does not operate in balanced mode, there is anRCA unbalanced input, and the black output connector goes to ground.
Also, the design eliminates the degenerating resistors usually found in
amplifiers for the purpose of locally minimizing gain and giving stability to parallel transistors.
Additionally, the amplifier's output stage bias is controlled by a new
circuit which keeps the bias current constant over a wide range of temperature and other conditions so as to allow operation without having degeneration in the output stage.
It is very different from the SIT-3. The XA25 is a "third harmonic" sort of
amplifier, and the SIT-3 is "second harmonic". The SIT-3 is relatively warm and polite and the XA25 is very dynamic and detailed.
Fortunately the SIT-3 is very happy with 4 ohms, and so either amplifier should be ablework well. It comes down to your personal taste."
Question :
So the X25 would be closer to what I'm looking for : as neutral as possible, WYHIWIOTS (What You Hear Is What Is On The Support) and musics : classical and acoustic jazz, mainly piano. 35 years of piano have (mis?)educated my ears as I like better faithfulness than shear pleasure.
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Both XA (30.5 and 30.8) amplifiers are a mix of 2nd and 3rd, depending on the load and the level. They start out as 2nd (harmonics) at low levels and are 3rd a high levels. The XA.8 products have more 2nd in proportion at low levels than XA.5 product"
Question :"Which would you consider as the most neutral ?
They all have the low order harmonics, just in different proportion.
Sonically the XA25 and XA30.5 are roughly equivalent in this regard.
The biggest difference in my opinion is that the XA25 has interesting
character is dynamics, largely due to lack of degeneration in circuit."
Question :
So you like better the X25 than the X30.5 according to what I'm looking for.
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I like them both. XA30.5 is a little more relaxed."
Question :
And compared to the X30.8 ?"
I think XA30.8 is better, has a little more 2nd to 3rd ratio. Also bigger
supply and more heat sinks and bias current."
More to come I hope.
