2. amps-preamps
  3. 1323786493

Pass XA Monoblock Amps

I know there have been many threads on these amps and the different levels of power with each set. To those who owned the Pass XA60.5 and went to the Pass XA100.5 monoblocks, did you feel that the change made a big difference in your system or was it not that noticeable whether played at low to mid level volume levels or high volume. I currently own the Pass 60.5 and am contemplating the Pass 100.5. Some people have suggested that it would take a move to the Pass XA160.5 for it to really make a difference but that would unfortunately be out of my price range. The room is 12 by 24 and the speaker load is 2 ten inch seas woofers, 2 seven inch mids, and the tweeter. They are 4 ohm with a sensitivity of 91 but a big speaker. Any thoughts from Pass owners of these amps would be appreciated. The other direction i can go would be to upgrade my Pre-amp from the Rowland Capri but my initial thought was that the Pass amp change would be more of an upgrade. Thanks for your thoughts.
pettyfeversk

Showing 5 responses by pettyfeversk

pettyfeversk OP
87 posts
 
Almarg,

Thanks for your thoughts as they are most appreciated. It is more of a push to drive these Woodmere loudspeakers related to the 4 ohm load. Whether they are actually 88 or 91 sensitivity, the more power they get, the better I believe they will perform. I have always like the Cardas Golden Reference cables. They are not only wiring my system , but I believe (but could be wrong) that they are used by Rowland in their products and Running Springs Power Conditioners also use them.
pettyfeversk OP
87 posts
 
Peterayer,

The needles on the amps move when i get to high volume levels . Thanks for your thoughts as well as Tom's thoughts. I know its hard to describe but I wonder what the Pass pre-amps bring to the match with the Pass amps as I have only heard my amps with the Capri. What i had read in the past about Pass Pre amps was that they tended to sound a bit on the thin side and were on the detailed side of neutral. It sounds like you are quite happy with sound you are getting from the XP-20.
pettyfeversk OP
87 posts
 
Hi Charles,

I don't know what my listening levels are in db. I know that the volume control on my Capri pre-amp goes from 0-100. When I get in the zone of 65-75, the bias meters start moving and i can tell that the amp is going out of class a to a/b. When this happens depends on the recording.
pettyfeversk OP
87 posts
 
I wish i could afford the XA160.5's but i can't. It is a 2.25 db increase from the Pass XA60.5 to the PassXA100.5. How much that will affect my headroom as well as the capacity to play loud without going into class a/b is probably unknown until i have them in my system as the room plays a part also.
pettyfeversk OP
87 posts
 
Hi Charles,

Thanks for responding. The XA.5 series has a very strong class A power supply but if you have the volume up to a high level, you reach a point where they transition from pure class A to classA/B. That happens with all the amps in the XA series and definitely happens to me with my speakers which can take a good amount of power. You can see the bias need move as you go up the volume level and they move to AB.
More to discover