Quandary

What sounds a "lot better" to one person doesn't mean the next person will hear it that way..Never heard your amp but have heard the big Pass monoblocks & found them to be a touch cold to my ears,reminding me of an older Krell I demo'd once..
I am also dubious of ANY salesman proclaiming "much better"sound when he's pushing a high commission piece..If your happy with the current sound I would Pass(pun intended)on a $300.00 demo........If the difference is that much,they should be willing to demo it for free!

They're called "sales" men for a reason. 🤣

@rvpiano states, "I'm really happy with my System"

What more is the Goal.

For me such a statement means the end sound I experience, as I don't do too much with the capturing of ones thoughts with a aesthetic. Function before Form is how my Audio Tools have evolved.

Additional to this, I have been demo'd numerous systems beyond my own, where a selection have been undoubtedly containing devices, I am certain would be beneficial to try out in my home system.

I have at present a short list of devices to achieve home system demo's off, with the intention to learn how these devices work to produce a alternate (not better/bettered end sound).

There is not a device out there that I sense can be brought home to be used, that will change the way I enjoy my system as it is at present or even in earlier guises.

Creating an alternate end sound, does not mean for myself the change heard is able to be more enjoyable, merely just a expansion on sonics I am exposed to, as  result of the influence of a particular electronics selected for a device.

If one wants to part with $300 to experience different end sonics produced in their home system, I suggest the supplier of the alternate devices is encouraged to bring along more than one device only. At least the end experience will be a broader understanding than what just one device will do.

FWIW, it will usually take a longer period than a few hours of exposure to a different electronics device to fully realise the value of it being added into the Signal Path of a very familiar system.   

$300 to listen to gear that someone is trying to sell you and they don’t even have the amp they are recommending? For me, that would be a no go from the start. I own a Pass XA25 and think it is a great amp. I would have a hard time trusting someone who told me that I should try something else they thought was much better and wanted to charge me to do so.

Wow!   With all the negative commentsI’m probably going to “pass” on the demonstration.

$300 just to demo the amp, and it’s not even the right amp??? You gotta be kidding me. The prospect of making a nice sale should be plenty for him to let you try the amp for free especially if he’s really so damn confident your system would “sound a lot better” with it. The $300 fee is just pure greed and frankly insulting as you’re already a paying customer of his, but apparently he’s is unwilling to put his money where his mouth is. This guy’s sure got a pair, I’ll give him that. I’d tell him to stick his absurd offer up his Class A hole (if the amp puts out 30Wpc it’s Class A, not A/B BTW).

In all fairness, it is almost a 100lb. amp that they’ll have to cart over, install, and return back to the store. But $300 is a little absurd! BTW, it’s not the salesman, but his boss, the owner, who determined that fee.

@soix +1

This sort of thing is situational.  If you have been a good customer and they have reason to expect that you would make a purchase if you like it, this would seem like a too high charge.  If the fee were refundable if you make the purchase that is another story.  It might take two people to deliver and set up the amp and they would have to give you a reasonable amount of time to audition.  Their cost might actually be close to this charge.  You might negotiate a lower charge and explain that the lower charge means both you and the store have some skin in the game.

The demo cost is $300 and not of the amplifier being proposed for your speakers. This when you were not considering a change in amplifier until a salesman suggested it. Not worth it in my opinion. 

If you were interested in trying a Pass amplifier with your speakers I would ask for a demo of an XA-25.  One could bring one home and place into their system on their own,  

@rvpiano 

I say pass on the Pass.

In todays world of HiFi and the dying market therein, I would think he’d want to pay you 300 bucks to audition an expensive amplifier.

Since they came out to provide service for you and apparently were competent, you may need their services again in the future. I wouldn’t burn the bridge but simply kindly decline their offer. Paying to hear an amp(s) that isn’t the one you would be buying seems a total waste.

Now, if in the future they do have the amp you would consider, the $300 question would need to be revisited BUT whatever audition fee you agree on would need to be deducted from the sales price if you buy.
 

As we age and lose some mobility we are forced to rely on others more. It is reasonable to pay for help provided but this one makes zero sense. Bringing you a 70 inch tv to see if you would like to buy a 55 inch one later benefits them a bit ($300 minus labor for their employee, one trip or two?). I don’t think it does anything for you except prime you to pay more than you want (up selling). The  sales manager is probably hoping you would go ahead and buy the monoblocks so you’re doing the right thing in asking for advice. Don’t burn the bridge but don’t trust too much either. 

The $300 fee would go towards the cost of the amp if I bought it.

If $300 is not an extreme burden for you, I'd give the new amp a try. The fact that you are very happy with the Benchmark doesn't mean you couldn't be "happier".

I'm ecstatic with my B&W 804D3 but would love to hear the new SVS Titans in my system. Just part of my "Explorer" DNA. Also: Pass XA-25, Jadis I50, Wireworld Eclipse 8 speaker cable, Mola-Mola DAC, etc.

I am really conflicted now. Evidently weak-minded. When I read the negative posts I was all set to ditch the audition. Now that I read positive remarks, I’m not so sure.
I guess I’ll never know until I listen to the Pass sound, even if it isn’t the same exact amp.  If I decide to buy it the $300 will be deducted from the cost.

Now that I’m listening to more recordings objectively I’m hearing the brightness of the Benchmark sound which could be tamed by Pass.

Right, you must audition the amp they want you to buy. Another option is to buy one used as Pass does very well on the resale market (the Benchmark does too).

maybe for starters bring your easy to carry Benchmark to the dealer and do some free testing...just to get a sense...I much prefer Pass to Benchmark...but wouldn't pay $300 for an audition...there's gotta be a better way...

I would also wonder if the owner, realizing you are a serious buyer, might upon discussing make you a better offer 

I would like to add this to my comment...A "Class A" amplifier, compared to Class A/B,even as good as the Pass might be,is a whole different animal..IMO Class A solid state is ABSOLUTELY at the pinnacle of solid state amplifiers..They do indeed offer EVERYTHING you read a good tube amp offers,including increased staging & imaging,the naturalness of tone & the organic fundamentals of notes..
The big mono blocks are probably biased to run Pure Class A up to a certain point,likely the first 20 wpc.or so,meaning it is likely you will hear the pronounced difference Class A makes..If I were you,I would follow the advice to take your amp to them & spend some time comparing it in their shop BEFORE commiting to the $300.00 in home demo..Also note,as already mentioned,you can save a LOT of $ looking at gently used & IF you move towards Pure Class A ,there are options to Pass Labs from Sugden,Musical Fidelity & Luxman that offer superb value for $ you might want to explore before dropping big $ on a new Pass....

Only one day in and the "really happy with my system" is now looking to be  

"really happy with my system" ?????

The Technician being also what seems to be a well honed Apex Predator  new how to cast bait / bait the trap and lure the prey in.

We have choice, and with such, an external influence is a critical part of the controlling factor, resulting in the pain of decision making that follows.

Aristotle Wrote on such a subject

'It is clear that choice is neither simply wish (boulēsis) nor belief (doxa), but belief and desire (orexis) together when as a result of deliberation they are brought to a conclusion.

For the $300, he was bringing over a pair of mono amps....2 X 100 lbs. A lot of work, imo. Not fair however, because the mono blocks would have enough characteristics to be different than the single chassis amp. I had an XA 25 here on loan from a friend, and I enjoyed my LSA GAN 350 (which I modified a bit), more. In fact, he sold it and got a pair of Gan Class D mono amps (with the tube looking things, lol), and have not looked back. Meaning, it is up to the individual, and what their tastes and likes are. I happen to have liked the Benchmark pre, but not the amp, in my system. I'm kind of thinking like Ralph of Atma Sphere, that Class A power amps are nearing their time, as well as tube power amps (tubes for me ended many years ago). It is all up to those characteristics in amplification (and any components) that the listener enjoys. My best, MrD.

All the Pass XA amps are rated at what their Class A power is, but all put out much more when when they shift to Class AB ...the meter actually only tells when the amp switches from Class A to AB.  The X series amps are rated as Class AB, but the first typically 10-25 watts are Class A...

To those who say (some in a snarky manner) that I am   being tricked into this purchase by a diabolical predator, let me say I am aware of the seduction.  Nobody is more gullible to suggestion and at risk for deception than an audiophile.  That’s why I created this post, to see what others had to say.  And I must say there are a myriad of opinions. 
 What is driving my interest in now trying out the amp is the posts of those who believe it will make a big difference in my system. It’s enough of a percentage to convince me to at least see what it’s like.

It's one thing if you were actively looking at that amp to purchase - even paying $300 for an audition could well be worth it to you compared to buying, not liking it, then having to resell.

But then you weren't actively looking. There could well be other amps out there for you to audition that won't cost $300 to listen to, and that you may like equally well.

As long as your willing to lose the $300, go for it. That could well be a bargain compared to not listening to it  and having the "what ifs" keeping you awake at night.

But you could also check around for other shops that may have a loaner program

if you can afford 300 bucks lost go for it and test it... Life is too short to stay in doubt...

 I am in a more tight budget... And i love too much what i have now...

@rvpiano , I can only speak for myself, but I would not pay $300 to audition the monoblocks that were not the ones that I was going to buy. Honestly, I think I would have a hard time seeing my way clear to paying $300 to audition the equipment that I was thinking of buying. However, I assume that in the event you did buy the equipment that you were auditioning the $300 audition feen would come off the price?

I think I got the impression from one or some of your posts that you live in NYC? And with no sarcasm intended, I suspect things like dealers bring equipment over to a clients home for audition is probably different there then in other places?

I live on Long Island.

Not sarcasm, you’re right!

I wouldn’t audition one unless it is the model I intended to buy if I liked it. 
 

My crazy mind would not be able to trust the less powerful amp sounding the same, to the good or bad…

But I’m not the sharpest fish in sea.

I’d be lying if I said I’m not concerned about that too.  But I want to hear the Pass sound.

No if its not the exact amp it will sound different 

No $300 to audition .if you like it the $300 is deducted

You should get 15% off 

If you’re happy with your system, then your reply should have been no thank you, I’m happy with my system. And unless the $300 would go towards a purchase, that is an obscene amount of money. Either way, the guy was way to pushy for my tastes.

The fee to bring the amplifiers over to audition might be worth it if you can leave them in your system for a few days to get a sense of how they will sound in your system. The fact they will deduct it if you buy is fair in my opinion but I am a Pass owner, an Aleph 5, 60 watt per channel class A that sings devine with my Watt/Puppies.

   Personally I would give it a shot, the only downside is you might want them and it is a big purchase but I have a feeling you will enjoy them quite a bit.

In any case, don't forget that the amp should be fully burnt-in before any serious audition. I don't know about Pass amps but probably hundreds of hours. And power cords matter too, along with all the cables. This would be quite a purchase, so everything must be as it should.

Wait until they or someone else can offer you the exact amp he’s recommended. It will sound different than the one’s he’s actually recommended. Find other opportunities to listen to the amp he’s suggested in home or in store or at another customer location.

Jetter is correct. This is strictly a class A pass amp. It will sound very different from your benchmark. For better or worse will be subjective. Good luck. 

Most shops that do offer home demonstration will do so only with customers they are familiar and can trust.  They will help you load it in your car, but beyond that, it would be a big imposition to expect them to set up in your home on the hope of a sale.  The crediting to your purchase price the fee for the demonstration is what I expected.  The question is whether $300 is reasonable.  If they give you enough time to seriously audition the amp, I think it is reasonable.  Ideally, they would leave it for a few days and return to pick it up.  
 Pass makes some very nice sounding amps, and the smaller amp you are considering will probably sound very similar to the higher powered amp if your speakers are efficient and the two amps have similar topology and are comparable in quality level.  I’ve even heard comparisons where the lower-powered amp by a particular manufacturer sounded better than its more powerful sibling.

@rvpiano not talking you into this deal. But the XA30.8 is a great amp and with your tube preamp you will have fatigue free listening. If you can get a hand setting it up, buy used. The XA25 should be great as well. I respect benchmark but am not a fan of their house sound. It’s a personal choice.
 

The XA30.8 operating temperature is about 104-107 degrees Fahrenheit. If heat is a consideration. Other than that I can’t think of any other drawbacks. Don’t worry about power cords. Whatever you’re using on benchmark should port over just fine. If not then the stock cable will hold you over as well.  

30 watt amp and 60watt amp can be same? That too one is monoblock!

Cannot be, not at all.

Why you have to pay when he is pushing the product?

For $300 one can buy decent amp.

Man is testing your wisdom.

Pass on the PASS!!!  I've had the honor to listen to your system. It sounds awesome my friend...Sit back relax and enjoy...

Honestly, I wish more dealers would offer this kind of service.  I would gladly pay the $300 to hear a new component in my home (with the understanding that the fee would represent the extent of my obligation should I not decide against future purchase).  How many of us have bought a component and then determined it’s not what we heard at the dealer?  Seems like a small price to pay.[

Just one question: How will you feel about losing the $300 if you don't like the sound of the Pass amps in your system?

Thank all of you who have taken the time to post and give me doubts about this transaction.  Especially to Omegga, who has heard and liked my system.  You all may have convinced me to shun the deal.