Pls help me decide Pass Labs X250.8 or Luxman M900u


I want to upgrade my 2 channel audio.  I have a 7.2.4 Home Theater system I am in the process of upgrading. Recently I upgraded my old B&W N805 / HTM2 to the 803D4 / HT81D4 and relegated my N805’s to Surround duty (and they excel in this roll!)

I have been driving (due to age of system) with a Pass Labs X5, which I will keep for surrounds and center on HT , but I want to upgrade my 2 Channel Audio.  I currently am trying to decide between the PassLabs X250.8 and the  Luxman M900u.  As these B&W’s can dip down below 2ohms I want to make sure I buy an amp which will bring out the best in my system and handle these dips. I will also be buying a Tube Preamp with HT Bypass -(looking for a used VAC Signature Mk5 SE or the new Backert Rhumba Extreme 1.4)

 

Anyone with experience with either of these amps and B&W 800’s would be great to hear from.

Thx!

 

garynospamm

Showing 1 response by blisshifi

Take this with a grain of salt as I am a dealer for T+A Elektroakustik, but look into the T+A A 3000 HV amplifier. It has the richness of a Luxman or Pass but will control speakers much better than either of them at the frequency extremes. It is stable down to 1 ohm and can drive the lowest sensitivity speakers. It is part of a modular system as well, where you can get a second and them into mono mode, or you can get an optional external power supply which separates the input stage power from the output stage power and give double its capacitance to 240,000uF. 

I use this amplifier as my personal reference and they pair wonderfully with Vivid Audio Kaya 90, designed by Laurence Dickie who designed the B&W Nautilus.

Happy to answer any questions should you have them.