Pass Labs xa - .5 amps

I'm not a believer in the blanket statement that lower powered amps always sound better. In my experience amps should be reviewed case by case. While I have heard some lines of amps where a lower powered one sounded better to my ears, I have also heard the opposite to be true. All other things equal, I think higher powered amps do have their advantages.

FWIW, used X-600.5's might be had for close to the same cost as new XA-60.5's. Almost the same amount of Class A operation, but with a whole lotta extra head room.

Class A operation surely does seem to have it's benefits, but, let's not credit all an amplifiers apparent prowers to this aspect of it's design alone.

Seems to me that Audiofeil might be in the position to offer the best advise on this one.

Despite the marketing hype, I believe it's not at all uncommon for some supposedly "pure class A" amps to drop into class AB at some point. Perhaps due to volume demands, perhaps due to impedance load, perhaps it can't draw enough power from the wall, perhaps it can't dissipate the heat and perhaps because the manufacturer is exagerating it's products capabilites. I think I would prefer an amp to slide into class AB rather than choke on class A and run out of steam or worse yet damage my speakers. This might partialy explain why some might choose a high powered Class A A/B amp with their particular speakers.

Aldavis, I'm not sure if your responding to my post or not. If so, I don't believe that I suggested that a Class A amp sliding into class AB would damage speakers. What I was suggesting is that over driving an amp could damage speakers.

Aldavis, it might be argued that class A amps might be more prone to clipping than class AB amps in that it's easier and less expensive to provide the neccessary power to avoid clipping with class AB than with class A operation. But, honestly, this is just an academic argument.

FWIW, Pass recommends balanced connections with their gear, c-j has never offered balanced connections.

I must bow to the respected Audiogoners that have personal experience with the Pass amps, but, I was under the impression that the special design traits of the Pass amps benefit even more so from balanced use than is typicaly the case with other amplifiers.