Pass Labs XA- ".5" ???

Greg,
The XA-160.5 will be released after the 100.5, 60.5, and 30.5 so buyers might be waiting a year or more.

The upgraded 160.5 and 200.5 are the last amps scheduled to be released in the series.

Good luck.

Just to let you all know the reason I started this thread.
I have had my XA-160's for sale here on Audiogon for 3 months. Recently a perspective buyer inquired into the cost and had some warranty questions. I told him my price and referred him to Pass Labs for tech info and warranty assurance. His next email to me was,"I know why you are trying to unload them, the new XA-.5's will be out next month".... He said my "XA-160's would be hovering in the $4K to $5k range". My first thought was he was confusing the X-.5 series with the XA series...low and behold he was right! I hate to be the last one to know, Gee whiz (I never say gee whiz) I thought they were the best amps I have ever heard!!!%$##&*^).... $4 to $5K... maybe in 7 or 8 years!
The "hovering in the $4K to $5K range" was a insult!!
Am I too thin skinned?
Sometimes I feel I should advertise like the Audio Pimp... lay out the rules of engagement... "don't waste my time with nonsence". Pardon my short fuse. I have been low balled 4 times in the last 2 weeks because another member decided to unload his XA's at a big discount($8500.00) he must have needed the cash fast! I understand that... but did I get any offers when another set went for $10,000...
For everyone who owns the XA series amps, you have great ears and impeccable artistic taste!

Greg

Any ideas on cost??

Ahhh thanks everyone. It kind of sucks that I just bought my XA160 but teejay's post made me feel better. My speakers are 89db efficient and I do not listen at very loud levels at all (70-85db). That being said, I hate not having the latest and greatest. I am gonna to have to fight the urge to upgrade on this one!!! Good luck to me!! Must resist....aaahhhhhhhh

Tarsando ; If it helps...I got it ! Not half bad .

Joefama is incorrect.

Current XA models cannot be upgraded to XA.5 series just as the X series cannot be upgraded to the X.5 series.

XA 100.5 is shipping now with the other XA.5 release dates to be determined.

Hi guy's, I just got off the phone with Peter at Pass Labs so here's the facts regarding the new XA.5 series amps.

Peter shared the following information:

1) The XA.5 series amps will double down as impedance drops, unlike the present XA amps that do not.

2) The sonic signature of the XA.5 series will not qualitatively differ then the present XA amps, but will offer the XA sonics to audiophiles with much more difficult speakers to drive in their systems.

So, if your a present XA amp owner and have no problems driving your speakers, the new XA.5 series really would not offer an advantage sonicly to you. On the other hand if you love the sound of the XA series but did not consider these amps because of the mismatch with your speakers, the XA.5 series would remedy that concern.

Finally, to be as accurate as I can be regarding what Peter shared with me if there is any sonic differences between the XA/XA.5, there should be no difference if impedance does not matter, but it's still "theoretical" because no one has yet directly compared a XA-100 to a XA.5-100. However, what I got out out of the conversation was that I don't think I will be sending in my XA-100's for upgrading in the near future.

Tboooe....it was all a joke, a play on words.. well not words, but the ".5" as "half. Plus "pass" = Nelson Pass. OK, so it wasnt that funny. Not funny at all... I had a bad day at the office! Anyway, sorry, didn't mean to confuse anyone.

Yes.
I talked with Peter at Pass Labs today. The XA series is about to release .5 series. So if any XA series owners I would start dumping before you take a major financial hit.

To add a .5 on your XA-160 mono block amps will cost you about $5000 per amp plus shipping round trip Ouch almost $11K for the upgrade with shipping from the East Coast !!

On a positive not the new XA-160.5, XA-100.5 and XA-200 amps are going to blow away the old XA series so I am told by Pass Labs.
Joe

tarsando, I sorry but I do not understand your response. Can you please clarify?

It was a half-baked idea but he released it anyway because of pent-up demand. He couldn't pass on the opportunity.