Pass XA30.5 enough power for Wilson Sophia 2?

I have just switched from Pass XA100.5's to a Bat VK-600SE with my Sophia2's as the Pass\Wison combo didn't satisfy in terms of bass control (on the sloppy side with Pass).

I'd be leery of using a 30.5 unless I listened very quietly.

The Pass is warmer in the midbass and midrange and slightly smoother in the top end. It's a beautiful amp in almost every way, the only issue I had is it didn't have a firm grip on the woofers of the Sophia 2.

With the Bat, the bass is tighter and not as bloomy (or muddy), so the end result (at least in my room) is that the soundstage is more open, I hear more air, etc.

A lot of (most perhaps) preamps have output impedance that is too high for the Pass.

My understanding is that a 600 ohms preamp impedance output (like the Ref 3) requires an amp with 60k input impedance.

Thanks for correcting me.

I haven't had good experience driving the Pass with tube preamps. I've tried the Cary SLP-05 and the Audio Valve Eclipse and the low bass is rolled off. It's one of the reasons I got the Bat.

I'm currently auditioning a Ref 5 (with my Bat). I'll have to try it with the Pass and see how it fairs.

Tvad,

Since you have a lot of experience with tube preamps, can I ask you what you like the best, and which ones have good bass?

So far I have been disappointed by all that I have tried, but other tab the two we already discussed, the only others I've tried is the Ref 5 and the Doshi Alep.

I might have to stick with solid state, but even there I've mostly had disappointments. My current ss pre is an H20 Fire, but I've had the
Parasound JC2, Pass XP 20, Esoteric C-03, and Wyred For Sound.

I dislike bloated, soft and inarticulate bass.

Thanks in advance.