Pass Labs XA30.5: In praise of Class A magic!


What an incredible piece of kit! I just "downsized" from my beloved Balanced Audio Technology VK500 amplifier to Nelson Pass' incredible Class A marvel, the XA30.5. I am very fortunate to have owned each of these fantastic amps. The BAT is a 250 wpc, fully-balanced Class A/B 110 lb. leviathan with incredible dynamics. The BAT's damping factor and Ampere output is truly world class for a high-current solid state amplifier. I loved my time with it, but frankly it was a bit of overkill for my modest listening room. When I introduced a pair of 93db efficient Focal Electra 1037BE loudspeakers into my system (which I absolutely love), the VK500 was just too much.

So I did my due diligence, and upon the recommendation of many I sold the BAT and purchased the Pass Labs unit. Everything the (not always so reliable) reviewers have said about this amplifier is true. The sound is simply sumptuous! I was initially wary of the XA30.5's flyweight 30 wpc power rating, but not to worry. The Pass Labs unit has plenty of grunt, and the sound is absolutely intoxicating. This amplifier simply has jaw-dropping levels of texture, detail and richness. The sound is very much like a high-end, high-power tube amp, without any mid-bass bloat and with a bit more grip on the low-end. I was once leery that amplifiers actually contributed to soundstaging and imaging, but that notion went out when I purchased the BAT. The Pass Labs unit excels in these areas even a bit more than the VK500. The XA30.5 is also exceptionally quiet. The layering and depth of soundfield is truly exceptional, and detail retrieval is simply spooky-realistic.

The XA30.5 is certainly not for everyone. If you have a very large listening room, or if you are driving demanding speakers such as electrostats or ribbons, you are obviously going to need more grunt. If that is the case, I strongly recommend the VK500 or one of BAT's more recent models. I'm sure one of the larger Pass units would be a great choice as well, but I have not actually heard one.

I have owned a lot of amplifiers, including one of Nelson's earlier works with Threshold, but I have never heard an amp as sweet and ear-popping realistic as the XA30.5. One of my best audio purchases in, well, ever. Audition one if you have the chance!

System components:

Focal Electra 1037BE loudspeakers

Rega P9 turntable with RB1000 tonearm and Apheta II MC cartridge

PS Audio PCA2 balanced preamp with PS Audio HCPS outboard power supply

Cary Audio 303/300 tube/solid state CD player

Musical Surroundings Nova II phono preamp

Cardas Golden Reference balanced interconnects and speaker cables

Custom RBH subwoofers (dual) with outboard RBH SA200 subwoofer amp

PS Audio PowerPlant Premiere power conditioner/voltage regulator

klipschking
I upgraded from Xa30.5 to Xa 100.8. Initially Xa100.8 did not sound as smooth and I missed the Xa 30.5. After a month the Xa 100.8 came into its own. Point being the Xa 30.5 is incredible. The Xa 100.8 is incredible and a bit. The Xa30.5 matched my Wilson Audio Sasha at moderate volume. But I needed more power for Rock at loud volume. Hence Xa 100.8.  

Never heard/owned the Wells amp.....I can only tell you about comparisons between the 30.8 and SIT-2. 
Did maybe one off you tried or compared Wells audio Innamorata amp to Nelson Sit-2 or 30.5/8?
I am running Mirror Image Audio which is class A to 30 watts or so. Having played with Class D and RWA for a few years. There is something so right about good old Class A. Can't stop tapping the toes.Hope to own some Nelson Pass equipment in the future.
klipschking, Congrats on your fine purchase. The 30.5 is a wonderful amplifier. Just curious, did you compare it to the 30.8? Do prepare yourself for a big bump in the electric bill however. 

Jaybe, I couldn't agree more. I own the 30.8 and love it. 

You should also try and check out Nelson's First Watt SIT-2. I am currently auditioning one in my system. It is a very special amplifier that is nothing short of magical. It is only 10 watts but drives my 89dB Focal Sopra No1s with absolute ease. It sounds like a triode amplifier. Three dimensional imaging....tonality off the charts.  

Happy Holidays!

Ben
I really enjoy the pass xa30.5 combined with my Joule Electra LA300-me

Great combination.
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I have Focal Electra Be 1037 speakers. I always like them with any amp I used them on to one degree or another,all good. Then I got  a Pass Labs XA 30.5 really sounded great. Next on to a pair of Pass Labs XA 160.5's. If you think the 30.5 sounds good, and it does, you should hear the 160.5 monos. They, who ever they are, say the speaker is efficient and stays near it's nominal rating of 8 ohms so it shouldn't need a lot of power but I can attest to how truly fantastic they can be. A  great amp showed me what these speakers could really do.

Mark

I was told this by an associate, I'm going back to him and ask where he got this information!
Just to be clear, you are, in fact, referencing the 30.5 and not the newer 30.8, correct??
Indeed! PHD you are mistaken my friend. Nelson Pass enjoyed a little capital inflow from colleagues, and he is no longer "President" of Pass Labs. He still designs and builds all the gear, along with the engineers he's worked with for decades. No difference from the consumer end. Whew!
What?? Nelson sold Pass Labs?? I know he desisigned and built the XA30.5, because a friend of mine was working with him at the time. If it's true that Nelson sold PL I certainly hope they continue to use his circuit designs!
Can it be true that Pass Labs is not owned and operated by Nelson Pass anymore? Never the less, they are truly excellent amps!
Sounds like a wonderful setup I'm using Pass 350.8 on Magico Q3 in my room the amp is running class A most of the time.Enjoy!!
Thanks! for sharing- klipschking

I am currently in the same situation of choosing gear for a reference system.
I am interested in both B.A.T. & Pass Labs gear for sure. Until I can spend some time w/ each line, my best demo was a Conrad Johnson Premier 350SA solid state (350+350w) power amp, CJ ACT2 Series2 tubed preamp, Sim Audio Moon cdp, Eggelston WEGG3 loudspeakers, Audience cabling all -around.

My reference speakers that I own are Thiel CS 2.4SE. They crave high power & higher current.  PLease advise...


Happy Holidays & Season's Greetings