Pass Labs INT-25 Integrated amp paired with Harbeth 30.2 XD speakers

@philsons

Just curious, what kind of rigs you have 1st and 2nd ones?

1st) Linear/neutral - Constellation Inspiration Pre+Stereo>Vimberg MinoD

2nd) Flea watt - Coincident M300B Frankenstein mkII>Volti Rival

I’d also love to get one of the best "musical" speaker I’ve demoed, a DeVore Orangutan O/96 matched with a Leben CS600.

If I move to a house with a large shared space like a family room,  likely the excellent omni speakers MBL 126/120, amplification maybe the MBL C51/N51.

Very grateful for the used market which makes a lot of excellent audio components affordable aka reachable.  

Interesting, that for the same song, each amp+speaker combo will have a different presentation. There’s also panel (ribbon, electrostatic, cone) and full horns

@kennyc I’ve pretty much decided to look for a used pair of 30.2 XD in close future, just need to finish my current home renovation. I’m leaning for Luxman 590, but depends on what prices I can find second hand. Hegel 390 is a strong second candidate. 
 

Just curious, what kind of rigs you have 1st and 2nd ones?

@philsons sorry for the delay because my answer seems somewhat embarrassing.

At audio shows and stores, I demoed many components focusing on a full range floorstander for first system and a very high efficiency speaker for my foray into tube magic including flea watt SET amps.  But after hearing the Harbeth 30.2XD on several occasions, I loved the musical sound that I’m trying to find a reason and use to justify a 3rd Hegel+Harbeth system.  I know I’ve heard Hegel electronics.  Not sure if Hegel electronics were used with the Harbeths

@philsons i want to share an interesting story. A few years ago, I owned 30.1s that I was using in my home office with a tube amp. They sounded quite good. I decided to sell them since I had upgraded to SHL5+ and didn’t want to keep too many speakers. The day the buyer came to audition them, we decided to move them to the main listening room and hook them up to the Luxman 590AXII (now sold). They sounded so frikinn’ good that I almost changed my mind. I wish I had paired them with the Luxman before or else I would have never sold them. They sounded like a completely different speaker with lots of air, bass, and increased resolution. The buyer told me he was planning negotiate a little but after hearing them, he paid my asking price and took them home. 
 

I also briefly auditioned the Hegel 390 in my system, although not with the 30.1s. I know that Alan Shaw demo’s the speakers with Hegel, but IMO, Luxman 590AXii was a match made in heaven. It really woke up the 30.1s and made beautiful music. I suspect 30.2 will be an even better match. 

@kennyc Hegel 390 is on my list as well as Luxman 590axii, both seems as interesting alternatives. Have you listened to any of them with 30.2?

Far from an ideal power/performance match, not advisable.

I also like the Harbeth + Hegel sonic synergy

@routeman21 I’m interested in the same config. Did you choose the int-25 or went with something different?

I have that exact setup in my living room. Listening area is about 17’ x 13.5’, speakers along the long wall, 18 - 24 inches from the wall, into the room.

For reference, I live in a coop building outside of NYC so…in the evenings I don’t get past maybe 78db peaks. Was listening to Muddy Waters (sorry, forgot which, just shut my stereo off for the night) and I happened to check how loud the peaks were. Just playing around. When the volume on the INT 25 was at 42 or 43 I was getting peaks of 77 and 78 db. I think at 48 or 49 I’d be getting a knock on the door. The volume on the INT25 goes up to 63. I hear no degradation at higher volumes.

Hope that helps a bit. Btw it’s the most realistic reproduction of my kind of music (jazz, blues, piano, acoustic guitar, etc) that I can remember in my home since I had Quad ESL63’s paired with a big CJ 140 tube amp years ago).

Akg_ca, good post. Just an observation. I think the Rega Osiris is 56 lbs, not 62 lbs.

Apart from looking at the power output at both 4 ohms and 8 ohms, I also look at the weight of the amp especially with Class A and AB. The heavier amps generally have a more robust power supply and construction, usually higher quality and high current.

Alan Shaw at HARBETH pontificates that his creations are all agnostic when it comes to integrated amp pairings. But he also speaks like John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness about cables also being a non-factor.

As an owner of the 30.2XD’s, I don’t drink ANY of his KoolAid …. ( and neither does my dealer ..,,), Rather quite the opposite, because they all have their bespoke sonic signatures, and that ethereal system synergy quest requires some experimentation.

But WTF, to each his own ,,,, Carry on!

INTEGRATED AMP OPTIONS - my bespoke choice

In my system, I have them paired with a REGA OSIRIS integrated amp and all CARDAS CLEAR cables / CARDAS CLEAR & GOLDEN REFERENCE power cords.

FWIW, The REGA OSIRIS is a beefy 162 wpc / 62 lb weight and very high current choice that is a terrific stablemate to the 30.2XD’s.

When I further upgraded the cables, it was a further step-up in dynamics, slam, and performance.

Highly recommended on both counts 

MY TAKE

Some drive FORDs, and some drive CHEVYs. A large bevy of available high-current amp options will not disappoint with your XD’s . Shaw has created a fine product that is arguably the sweet spot in his model range.

When you are distilling out the integrated amp contenders from the pretenders, ignore the upfront power ratings at 8ohms and see what are the specs when the impedance drops to 4 ohms.

The “standard” marketing puffery pushes specifications that might say the output power is 100 watts RMS at 8 ohms. Notice the power output (100 watts) is at a specified load (8 ohms).

The above shows that for an ideal amp, halving the impedance doubles the power output if the power output nearly doubles, then you have a high current amp.

Herb Reichert of Stereophile often extols the virtues of the pairing of the Pass XA-25 with the M30s, though I haven’t heard it myself.  I have the M30 XDs also, and have had them in my home with the Luxman 590AXII, Benchmark LA4 and AHB2, Line Magnetic 845ia, and primaluna separates.  I prefer the LM above all the others, followed by the Benchmark.  The LM is only 22 w/ch but is the most ‘alive’ and natural sounding of the group.  I listen mostly to jazz and classical with it, so it’s hard to say when its 22 watts might not be enough, but 22 watts goes a long way, especially in a smaller room.  My room is 21 by 14 feet.  There’s plenty of bass with the LM but it is not super tight, perhaps the only downside.  The Benchmark is just as natural sounding but not quite as musical, but with Harbeth it is a really good pairing/synergy and plenty of power.  Initially I had the M40s with Benchmark monos, and I would recommend this pairing above any other (that I have heard to include Luxman separates).  That said, all of these amps work well.  

I'm currently using a Luxman L-505UX II integrated with nice results but I'm interested in keeping things simple, like the Pass INT-25 with it's few analog only inputs and nothing else like pre-outs, digital ins, phono ins, etc. I play CD's only and am content with that. My system is a CD player, Intgrated amp & speakers. Avanti 1960, the Cronus is exactly what I'm looking for feature wise with it's simplicity but I'm interested in solid state, not tubes because I fear the tube amp in combination with the Harbeth's may produce a warmer, softer sound that I won't be happy with. But then again I may be wrong. I'm not against tubes, perse, it's just that I've listened to the Harbeth's with 2 different solid state amps and I like the way it responds to them.

a rogue audio cronus magnum is an excellent sounding amp and matches well with the Harbeths.  plenty of power and a smooth, clear 3D sound that belies its price.

Per Stereophile the XA25 measures at 60 watts into 8 ohms.

I understand the appeal of a lovely Pass integrated, but I don’t think it will supply enough power. I drive the P3ESR in my desktop system with 200 wpc. I like large amps, with their lower likelihood of clipping or dynamic compression. To me, they add life to the presentation.

I would suggest a considerably more powerful amp for the M30, especially if you listen at moderate or high levels. Even if you don't share my appreciation of powerful amps in general, I think that 25 wpc is not enough for the M30 to shine.

I had a friend who tried this exact combo. He was pretty happy initially but I think he moved up to INT-60 and said it was a better match. Another amp that mates well with Harbeth is Hegel H390. Good luck!