Pass Labs XA-25 vs XA-30.8 amplifier

Oh and I normally don’t listen at loud levels, but want to have something in the tank for when the Tympani’s bang out their part.😁

Thanks again.

@curiousjim I bet they'd be fine for those speakers. A lot depends on the impedance curve but I used the Pass XA25 for speakers with very reasonable impedance curves at 87 and 91 db sensitivity and the amp never faltered. 

https://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/loudspeaker-sensitivity

Basically (in case you don't know): 

An audio speaker's impedance curve shows its electrical resistance across frequencies, indicating how easily an amplifier can drive it. Curve dips to low ohmic values (e.g., 2-4 ohms) demand more current from the amplifier, making it a harder load. A large phase angle (deviation from 0 degrees) at certain frequencies further stresses the amplifier by forcing it to deliver voltage and current out of sync. Speakers with significant dips and phase shifts are tougher loads, requiring more robust amplifiers.

The XA25 is designed to deliver significant current, with a peak current output of 10 amps, which translates to a 200-watt peak into a 2-ohm load. It also has, if I recall correctly, a damping factor of 500 and this gives it excellent control over the speaker's drivers, especially the bass passages.

You may want to add the coda no 8 amplifier to your list.

the coda no 8n is way more flexible the no8 can be ordered in three different variants

V3: 400 Watts x 2 into 8 Ohms

800 Watts x 2 into 4 Ohms

Class A ~8 Watts

V2: 250 Watts x 2 into 8 Ohms

500 Watts x 2 into 4 Ohms

Class A ~12 Watts

V1: 150 Watts x 2 into 8 Ohms

300 Watts x 2 into 4 Ohms

Class A ~18 Watts

"The $6,800 Coda No. 8 is very musical yet very detailed in ways that make me think that a fairer comparison would be my $13,5000 Pass Labs XA-60.8 monoblocks, which is a significant accolade for the Coda No. 8, as the Pass 60.8s are mean competitors costing far more money." - Terry London, Home Theater Review

At any time you can re-bias the amp at the factory so you can increase the amplifiers output 

Dave and Troy

audio intellect NJ

coda dealer

@curiousjim 

Nice speakers. I have Amati Traditional and power them with ARC Ref 160s in triode mode... so 70 wpc instead of the 140wpc in linear mode. They are not compromised in any way... but this is a tube amp. 

While you could probably "get away" with the small Pass. I would look up the Pass XA line up to better match with higher power. 

I purchased efficient speakers so I had flexibility with my amp purchase.

I have the XA25 running through a Khozmo preamp into the Crites speakers, which are Klipsch clones.  The amp is very pleasant and neutral.  Very good bass. Build quality superb. I will not be selling it. The 30.8 will be warmer but a even beefier amp, it puts out over 100 Class AB. It also weighs 90 pounds which influenced my decision.  If some talks you out of Pass there is Ayre, Luxman, Sugden and Coda which all have generous Class A output.