Seeking opinions about Pass Labs 250.5 amp.

I was surprised that the XA30.5 could drive the Monitor Audio PL-300 with ease. And there was a lot of drive and also the speed was still good. Wenn you listen to an amp you also listen to many other aspects. The room ofcourse, but also the source, speakers and cables. These sets I didn't like. So it doesn't say everything!!

The X250.5 is a stunning amp. I owned the XA30.5, 60.5 and 100.5. For the money this one is my favorite. The next updat in my set will be the X350.5 or 600.5. The last one will be the biggest change. Wenn I bought the Purist Audio LE 2013 powercable the performance of the 250.5 went to a much higher level. The stage became a lot wider and deeper. The blacks went to a much higher level. And the drive was from another world. It gave the feeling of I bought a much bigger amp. Also in the high freq. you hear more and the focus of all the instruments and voices is more palpable. The X250.5 if superior to the X250. This amp was ok, but I never get thrilled by it. By using the best cables you can get a much higher level in performance out of the Pass Labs poweramps. Normally people pay more money for a new poweramp instead of better cables. That is why I do many blind tests with amps and sources with normal priced cables and less expensive amps and sources with expensive cables. Just to let people hear how much cables do these days. I am only interested in the best performance for the money a person wants to spend.

I could life with both to be honnest. I prefer the extra drive and speed. The highs of the x series sounds a little more open. With the Onkyo PR-SC5509 I can drive Pass Labs poweramps a little more efficient than with the XP-20. The needle starts later to move. With the X600.5 I Always will drive in class A. Even wenn I play at high volumes. The overwhole sound I have now is already warm. Wenn I played with the XA100.5 and XP-20 I used the Valhalla loudspeakercable and the Meridian 800DAXv4. With the X250.5 and Audioquest Redwood 2013, Purist Audio 2013 limited powercable , Audioquest Wild blue Yonder new xlr and Olive 06HD I have a much warmer sound. I do not need the extra warmth of the XA series. In my situation the X series is a better option. The extra drive and speed is so addictive!!

The X350.5 has more class A watts. More drive and control compared to the X250.5. The stage is also bigger. It also dpends on the speaker. But you hear the difference between the amps for sure. Also at lower volumes there will be more weight and control. But now comes the funny thing; Wenn I bought the Purist Audio LE 2013 powercable I was stunned about the difference with a cheaper powercable of Purist with this one. I think wenn I would have used the 350.5 with a powercable of a few hundred dollars the 250.5 wiht the LE powercable would have played even better. Without the LE powercable you loose in the openness and extreme articulation of voices. So you can get a superior level out of a Pass Labs by using a different powercable. I heard many new things in wellknown recordings with the combination of the X250.5 and LE 2013 powercable. With the XA100.5 and XP-20 I did not have the level in articulation I know have. This is why I test and compare so often. Always to find the best sound possible. Wenn you are a perfectionist you Always look further and go on and on! I have a big drive to improve all the time.

I heard many Pass labs poweramps. The same for powercables. For those who have not a lot of experience with cabels I use blind testst. It is Always about letting people hear the difference. The reason why some people are still not convinced about cables is because there are too many average or even poor brands. I only use the best, the rest I really don't f...care. The thing I hate most in this business is the poor knowledge of many people who work in this business. Often they are not dedicated to what they do. They just do it for the money. The many many products in audio what is sooooo average or even poor. It is onbelievable how many people have these kind of products in there sets.

Wenn you go up the line with Pass you hear the difference. I owned the 30.5, 60.5 and the 100.5. It is not only the extra power it has. But also the sonic caracter. The stage is bigger, the sound is more musical. And there is more space around the instruments and voices. At every volume you will hear the difference in weight in the low freq. There is more control and authority at any volume you play. The X350.5 I listend at shows. Not in my own setting.