Pass Then vs. Pass Now

I've owned the 30.8 amp and it is a terrific powerful amplifier, despite its 30wpc/8-ohm rating.  I also own a First-Watt SIT-2 and F8, both of which are terrific amps and with the right efficient speakers have taken my listening another level higher in terms of micro-detail and sound stage.  My speakers presently are Living-Voice OBX-RW's (94-db 6.-ohms nominal) and all of the above amplifiers drive them well.  The 30.8 was plenty of power for my L-V speakers as even with high levels of listening, it never seemed strained or to run out of power.  And for moderate to loud listening, the First-Watt amps above also work well.  With your 90-db Gibbons, I suggest that if you like to listen moderately to loudly, you consider the 30.8 over the First-Watt amps.  You should consider headroom and crest factor in your listening and based on your speaker efficiency, choose an amp that will not be taxed at louder volumes.  Remember that at your listening position, your SPL may be down ~7-db, and you definitely want ~6db or more for headroom on peak music.  In my experience with my L-V speakers, the 30.8 came really close to both the First-Watt SIT-2 and F8 in terms of micro-detail other areas important to my listening, however I sold the 30.8 since I really didn't need it with my soon to have new 106-db 16-ohm single-driver speakers.  Good luck in your quest for a new amplifier to power your Gibbons !   

@jjss49 Thanks !  As you've said, Nelsons' First-Watt "kitchen-table" amplifiers were designed for sounding terrific from the first-watt in mind.  The reliability also of the Pass-Labs and First-Watt electronics is well-known.  Nelson is also one designer who is very willing to share design information and I've e-mailed him questions about my amps on several occasions.  He's always gotten back to me and rather quickly, considering he must be a pretty busy man.  I love the minimalist approach to the First-Watt series and the sound of very few active components "singing" through a fairly efficient speaker can be captivating.  It was that way with the SIT-2 and my Volti Vittora's.and even my Living-Voice OBX-RW's. The Vittora's are long-gone as there was no room for them in our retirement cottages' small listening space, however the 106-db single driver speakers are coming soon ! Happy listening !

@theschwartz  Great discussion everyone. Really appreciate all the feedback and lively back and forth. 

@liquidsound you raise a great question. Being that I live in an apartment I can't really play too loudly. In fact one of the reasons I am looking to upgrade aside from a general improvement is that I find I need to turn the Sphinx up considerably before there is any weight and dynamics to the music so I am hoping to achieve a fuller sound at lower volumes.

While I can play music loudly, most of my musical enjoyment is at moderate volumes and if your speakers have challenges coming "alive" until they're played at higher volumes, perhaps it could be them, or possibly the equipment.  If you really like the sound of your speakers played at lower to moderate volumes, finding an amplifier that can do that could be the best thing.  If you can borrow an audiophile friends' solid-state amp to try and see if the weight and dynamics are better at your ;lower listening volumes, the direction may be clearer as to where to go with amplification.  What I have found with the Pass-Labs and First-Watt amps is that Nelson Pass has designed them with power supplies that are superb and when I have listened to them at lower volumes, the dynamics and "weight" of the music seems proportional to listening at higher volumes.  It gets back to I believe his design philosophy of if the first-watt doesn't sound good, how can the rest sound good ?  There are good reasons for my sticking with First-Watt amplification and I also have a superb 300-B tube amplifier (BorderPatrol S20) that rivals the First-Watt SIT-2.at low and moderate volumes.  However, the differences really come to light more with efficient speakers.  I can speak of this in more detail from my experiences in another post.