Pass Then vs. Pass Now

I’ve owned a lot of amps over the decades (including a couple of 535s, preamps, etc.) and still use a later Adcom amp in my video rig. I had a great sounding Forte Model 55 amp that was sort of "Threshold adjacent" just before going all tube...in any case, I now use a Pass XA-25 and it’s frankly an astonishing sounding original design from old Nelson. Design wise it’s nothing like any other Pass amp (perhaps somewhat closer to his First Watt clever stuff) other than being a seemingly bullet proof beautifully made thing...and a relative bargain built to last for years.

op

don't rule out the xa25 either, it is excellent, plenty of power for your gibbons

kind of a lovely mid ground between x and xa series sound...

May theschwartz be with you….

My FirstWatt F8 is terrific, driven by a tube preamp. Your Devore Gibbon 3xl speakers have a high enough sensitivity that the F8 can drive them just fine.

Another vote for getting the XA30.8. Using the Sphinx as a preamp is doable, but won’t you be running the output section as well? I’m pretty sure it will be okay being as it’s a class d output, but I’d check with Rouge Audio and make sure you won’t muck up something by running it without a load ( speakers ).

Anyway, if you like it, great, you have a system you like and if not, you should be able to sell the V3 and get a different preamp.

All the best.

I have owned Pass since the Threshold s500, then x350 up until fairly recently. I can say unhesitatingly, contemporary Pass amps are tremendously better than the ancient Threshold. The character of the Threshold or his newer xSeries are similar… emphasizing power over finesse. XA is more about finesse over massive power.

So, given what you have, your interests and where you are, I would definitely recommend an XA30.x. This will be in line with a more musical fleshed out tone. Sounds like a good match for you.

Seek out a Pass XP-12 preamp in the future if you land the XA30.8. Keeping the synergy between components is very important. 

Thanks! I am leaning towards the XA30.8 for many of the reasons stated here. I think I needed to hear someone say that it is in another league above the Rogue sound that I have been listening to (and enjoying - that Sphinx punches way above its class). 

While I love the idea of vintage gear, I am also not that technically inclined myself so I would have to pay for maintenance and deal with the headache. I live in NYC so there are enough local resources to do the job but they are awfully pricey.  Reliability is why I am sticking to solid state in the first place.

That said, the Threshhold sounds like a bargain at the price and one for which there will always be a market if it doesn't work out... 

Threshold Is without a doubt a good amp. Problem with vintage amps is if you need parts replaced. Those oil can capacitors, other parts. Are these amps even supported today? Shipping that amp for a repair will cost a few bucks as well.
This alone can bridge the price gap. This is all not factoring into the equation that the new XA design takes advantage of modern technology, years of lessons learned and readily available parts and awesome Pass customer service. 

Grab that Threshold 400A before someone else! It is a superb amp! I’ll take it any day over a new Pass! I’d also sell the Rogue and get a Threshold preamp to match the 400A. Since you like tube preamps I can recommend a Precision Fidelity C2 from the late ’70s. A superb tube preamp designed by Bruce Moore (of the later MFA - Moore, Frankland, Associates fame).

I don’t have your speakers but I did have Adcom 555 and 5802 with B&Ws and Dynaudios and Martin Logans. While I enjoyed these amplifiers, my Pass Labs XA30.8 is in a completely different league.

Oh and I also had Rogue RP-1 and RP-5 with Rogue ST100 amp. The XA-30.8 is what I moved up to.